Say hello to reaper!

[skyshadow]

 

[Stryker1982]

I think you are mistaken dear LeGenD ,it was Rq-170 that was captured in 2011 .. Iranian drone was sent into the Palestine in 2018 and was one of small version of Rq-170 .. probably this one ...
View attachment 521322 View attachment 521323 View attachment 521325View attachment 521326
Not this one:
View attachment 521324

Was this the one that penetrated the border and they had to bring in a helo to shoot it down after SAM's would miss?

 

[raptor22]

Was this the one that penetrated the border and they had to bring in a helo to shoot it down after SAM's would miss?

I think so ..

 

[LeGenD]

I think you are mistaken dear LeGenD ,it was Rq-170 that was captured in 2011 .. Iranian drone was sent into the Palestine in 2018 and was one of small version of Rq-170 .. probably this one ...
View attachment 521322 View attachment 521323 View attachment 521325View attachment 521326
Not this one:
View attachment 521324

Thanks for the pointer (yes, the incident took place in 2018). The drone was Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) - an advanced copy. But not sure.

FYI:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/irani...space-seems-to-be-american-stealth-knock-off/
https://theaviationist.com/2018/02/...-anti-aircraft-fire-from-syrian-air-defenses/

Was this the one that penetrated the border and they had to bring in a helo to shoot it down after SAM's would miss?

The drone involved in the incident which took place on February 10, 2018, was an advanced copy of RQ-170 - equipped with the very best of Iranian technologies. It was destroyed by a missile controlled with an electro-optical sensor.

You are highlighting a separate incident; in that incident, a drone managed to evade Israeli attempts to shoot it down using ARH techniques and escaped (was not deep inside Israel). However, what type of drone it was and who was controlling it - is not clear.

 

[raptor22]

Thanks for the pointer (yes, the incident took place in 2018). The drone was Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) - an advanced copy.

FYI:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/irani...space-seems-to-be-american-stealth-knock-off/
https://theaviationist.com/2018/02/...-anti-aircraft-fire-from-syrian-air-defenses/


The drone involved in the incident which took place on February 10, 2018, was an advanced copy of RQ-170 - equipped with the very best of Iranian technologies. It was destroyed by a missile controlled with an electro-optical sensor.

You are highlighting a separate incident; in that incident, a drone managed to evade Israeli attempts to shoot it down using ARH techniques and escaped (was not inside Israel). However, what type of drone it was and who was controlling it - is not clear.

As I said it was Saeghe, what I am saying is how do you know it was "The very best of Iranian technologies"? bigger version of it was unveiled in 2014 (Simorgh) ... for sure Iran wouldn't deploy its most advanced drones on battle field to just poke israel in eye ... who knew Iran has flying wing bomber till several weeks ago?

 

[LeGenD]

As I said it was Saeghe, what I am saying is how do you know it was "The very best of Iranian technologies"? bigger version of it was unveiled in 2014 (Simorgh) ... for sure Iran wouldn't deploy its most advanced drones on battle field to just poke israel in eye ... who knew Iran has flying wing bomber till several weeks ago?

Friend,

I was not there when the incident occurred and I am not sure which drone it was, in person. Iran have developed so many drones by now that it is difficult to recall names and differentiate them at times.

Some sources advance the argument that it was Saeqeh.

"Experts who examined footage of the downed drone released by the IDF agreed that the shape closely resembled that of Iran’s Saeqeh, or “Thunderbolt,” drone, which was based on a CIA-operated Sentinel captured by Iran in 2011.

Conricus said he could not specifically confirm that the drone was a Saeqeh and that the wreckage was still being examined. Iran has produced several other drones based on the RQ-170, according to reports."

Source: https://nypost.com/2018/02/12/israel-shot-down-iranian-drone-was-copy-of-us-craft/

However, one source advances the argument that it was Simorgh:

"The wedge-shaped drone looks like a flying saucer when seen in the black and white of a thermal scope. An Israeli helicopter pilot is tracking its smooth, steady path from the cockpit of an Apache.

It's not hard to ID the model and owner of the unmanned aircraft. It’s Saturday morning, Feb. 10, and the drone is flying from Syrian airspace, launched from a base staffed with Iranian military. The shape and size of the drone pegs it as a Simorgh, a pilotless plane with a stealthy shape."

Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/mi...6-syria-iran-anti-aircraft-missile-shootdown/

Popular Mechanics articles are normally well-researched.

Whatever it was - Israeli sources simply pointed out that it was an advanced copy - much advanced than usual Iranian stuff. They are not willing to tell much.

 

[raptor22]

Friend,

I was not there when the incident occurred and I am not sure which drone it was, in person. Iran have developed so many drones by now that it is difficult to recall names and differentiate them at times.

Some sources advance the argument that it was Saeqeh.

"Experts who examined footage of the downed drone released by the IDF agreed that the shape closely resembled that of Iran’s Saeqeh, or “Thunderbolt,” drone, which was based on a CIA-operated Sentinel captured by Iran in 2011.

Conricus said he could not specifically confirm that the drone was a Saeqeh and that the wreckage was still being examined. Iran has produced several other drones based on the RQ-170, according to reports."

Source: https://nypost.com/2018/02/12/israel-shot-down-iranian-drone-was-copy-of-us-craft/

However, one source advances the argument that it was Simorgh:

"The wedge-shaped drone looks like a flying saucer when seen in the black and white of a thermal scope. An Israeli helicopter pilot is tracking its smooth, steady path from the cockpit of an Apache.

It's not hard to ID the model and owner of the unmanned aircraft. It’s Saturday morning, Feb. 10, and the drone is flying from Syrian airspace, launched from a base staffed with Iranian military. The shape and size of the drone pegs it as a Simorgh, a pilotless plane with a stealthy shape."

Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/mi...6-syria-iran-anti-aircraft-missile-shootdown/

Popular Mechanics articles are normally well-researched.

Whatever it was - Israeli sources simply pointed out that it was an advanced copy - much advanced than usual Iranian stuff. They are not willing to tell much.

Look at its size:

Rq-170 wing-span is 27 meters .. do you think it's a 1:1 copy of that?Simorgh?

Base on this I don't think it would be bigger than 6 meters.
it's Saeghe:



Making Sense with Measurents
On Nov. 11, the IDF posted an infographic on Twitter with more details, stating that the drone was indeed a copy of the RQ-170, detailing that the wingspan is 85 feet, which is roughly 26 meters. This seems to be a bigger version than the one displayed flying in the video from 2014. But is this correct? We can use the measurement from the RQ-170 to get to the wingspan of the Iranian UAV modelled after it.

(Clearly idf lied)

The original RQ-170 has a wingspan of 20m and a wingtip width of 1.6.m. From these dimensions it is possible to determine an approximate wingspan to wingtip width ratio of 12.5:1. Assuming that the broad design of the RQ-170 applies to the Iranian drone, images of the wing tips can be used to calculate its wingspan

From this image released by the IDF of the wreckage of the Iranian drone, a wingtip width of between 50-60cm can be approximated using the shoe in the frame as a reference point. Such a length would make the drone have a wingspan of 6.25-7.5m based on this 12.5:1 ratio.

Hence the IDF statement of the Iranian version to be 26 meters wide seems to be an overstatement if the footage of the wreckage being put online is to go by. More precise data on the drone is needed to very the IDF claim.

Comparing Wings and Components
Other pictures of the downed drone posted by the IDF helps us identify the version of the drone shot down by the Apache. On the image below, one can clearly see the wing shape of the drone similar to the wing shape of the drone in the footage from 2016 video.

The images of the downed drone and those put on display for Iranian TV seem to be different version compared with the drone seen flying, which has a different wing shape, though this can also be due to the flaps being up. Nonetheless, there are some other striking differences.

The drone in the image above is also larger and has an upper engine intake, compared with the smaller one displayed in the hangar, though two of those on display in the hangar have larger exhaust intakes as well, yet are missing the elevated parts on both side next to the exhaust as seen in the footage of the flying drone.

 

[Sineva]

As for the repear etc i hope they crash land an F-22 in iranian airspace so they could copy it. That would be something won't it

LOL where do you come up with such rubbish? there is virtually no such thing as left wing politics in israel

Well,the left wing by israeli standards would be considered only barely half a step away from total full blownfascism anywhere else in the rest of the world.....so..[LOL]
Israel political system is even more shifted to the right side of the political spectrum than the usa is...and thats saying something.

 

[LeGenD]

Look at its size:
View attachment 521413 View attachment 521414
Rq-170 wing-span is 27 meters .. do you think it's a 1:1 copy of that?Simorgh?
View attachment 521422
Base on this I don't think it would be bigger than 6 meters.
it's Saeghe:
View attachment 521420


Making Sense with Measurents
On Nov. 11, the IDF posted an infographic on Twitter with more details, stating that the drone was indeed a copy of the RQ-170, detailing that the wingspan is 85 feet, which is roughly 26 meters. This seems to be a bigger version than the one displayed flying in the video from 2014. But is this correct? We can use the measurement from the RQ-170 to get to the wingspan of the Iranian UAV modelled after it.

(Clearly idf lied)

View attachment 521412

The original RQ-170 has a wingspan of 20m and a wingtip width of 1.6.m. From these dimensions it is possible to determine an approximate wingspan to wingtip width ratio of 12.5:1. Assuming that the broad design of the RQ-170 applies to the Iranian drone, images of the wing tips can be used to calculate its wingspan

View attachment 521408

From this image released by the IDF of the wreckage of the Iranian drone, a wingtip width of between 50-60cm can be approximated using the shoe in the frame as a reference point. Such a length would make the drone have a wingspan of 6.25-7.5m based on this 12.5:1 ratio.

Hence the IDF statement of the Iranian version to be 26 meters wide seems to be an overstatement if the footage of the wreckage being put online is to go by. More precise data on the drone is needed to very the IDF claim.

Comparing Wings and Components
Other pictures of the downed drone posted by the IDF helps us identify the version of the drone shot down by the Apache. On the image below, one can clearly see the wing shape of the drone similar to the wing shape of the drone in the footage from 2016 video.


View attachment 521419
View attachment 521409

The images of the downed drone and those put on display for Iranian TV seem to be different version compared with the drone seen flying, which has a different wing shape, though this can also be due to the flaps being up. Nonetheless, there are some other striking differences.

View attachment 521411

The drone in the image above is also larger and has an upper engine intake, compared with the smaller one displayed in the hangar, though two of those on display in the hangar have larger exhaust intakes as well, yet are missing the elevated parts on both side next to the exhaust as seen in the footage of the flying drone.

View attachment 521410

Your argument is based on this article: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/men...pen-source-information-irans-new-drone-syria/

This statement affirm my point of view:

"Summing up, there are now three known version of batwing model: two different versions of the Saeqeh and a larger version dubbed the S-171 Samorgh, where the latter is seen flying in Iranian state TV footage."

- Iran have developed several prototypes/variants.

Correct names are Saegheh and Simorgh by the way.

Saeqeh is the name of an Iranian Jet fighter, based on American F-5E.

Footage of the wreckage:

The variant [in question] could carry payload internally; its payload was not protruding. FYI: https://www.timesofisrael.com/irani...israel-in-february-was-armed-with-explosives/

Saegheh cannot carry payload internally. FYI: https://www.janes.com/article/79430/idf-highlights-iranian-presence-in-syria

IDF only pointed out that the drone is an advanced copy of the American RQ-170 Sentinel variant in Iranian hands. IDF did not identify the drone as either Saeqeh or Simorgh; these identifications are from distant onlookers.

Keep in mind the fact that IDF have shot down numerous drones over the course of years that were under the ownership of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah respectively. Who knows what treasures they have in their possession.

 

[raptor22]

Your argument is based on this article: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/men...pen-source-information-irans-new-drone-syria/

This statement affirm my point of view:

"Summing up, there are now three known version of batwing model: two different versions of the Saeqeh and a larger version dubbed the S-171 Samorgh, where the latter is seen flying in Iranian state TV footage."

- Iran have developed several prototypes/variants.

Correct names are Saegheh and Simorgh by the way.

Saeqeh is the name of an Iranian Jet fighter, based on American F-5E.

Footage of the wreckage:

The variant [in question] could carry payload internally; its payload was not protruding. FYI: https://www.timesofisrael.com/irani...israel-in-february-was-armed-with-explosives/

Saegheh cannot carry payload internally. FYI: https://www.janes.com/article/79430/idf-highlights-iranian-presence-in-syria

IDF only pointed out that the drone is an advanced copy of the American RQ-170 Sentinel variant in Iranian hands. IDF did not identify the drone as either Saeqeh or Simorgh; these identifications are from distant onlookers.

Keep in mind the fact that IDF have shot down numerous drones over the course of years that were under the ownership of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah respectively. Who knows what treasures they have in their possession.

It's smaller than to carry payload internally and none of your links indicate or provides any evidence that it was armed just saying it was caring explosive ... as I said Iran has made different variant of Rq-170 and for me it's Saeghe ..
It's too small to have payload internally, the payload introduced for them is Saddid which 1.5 meters length which I don't think could be be fitted into this:

 

[AmirPatriot]

@LeGenD

The drone the Israelis shot down (with an IR missile launched from an Apache, it seems they couldn't intercept it with a radar guided missile) was far and away not the most advanced of Iran's UAVs. It was a tactical size UAV (similar to the RQ-7) and even had a piston engine. And the Israeli claims that the UAV was packed with explosives are dubious and lack proof.

This is different from the larger versions Iran is developing, and certainly different from the jet powered UCAV version that dropped guided bombs on ISIS recently.

As for the MQ-9, Iran has already captured the MQ-1C and RQ-170 so I don't think it's exactly out of the realm of possibility that they also captured a Reaper.

 

[LeGenD]

The drone the Israelis shot down (with an IR missile launched from an Apache, it seems they couldn't intercept it with a radar guided missile) was far and away not the most advanced of Iran's UAVs. It was a tactical size UAV (similar to the RQ-7) and even had a piston engine.

Thanks for your input.

"A video has been released showing the downing of the Iranian drone. It appears to be a flying-wing configuration. In particular, Iran has been working to build similar shaped unmanned aircraft as the stealthy RQ-170 Sentinel it captured in 2011, although these knock-off craft, which come in various sizes and configurations, are far less advanced than their American counterpart. The propeller-driven "Simorgh" variant of the design appears to best match the aircraft shown in the video being shot down, although the video is low quality so it's hard to make the identification definitively.

Notice that the Iranian drone appears to release decoy flares before being shot down by an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. This would indicate a fairly advanced system. The second part of the video shows the line-of-sight control vehicle for the drone being destroyed by an Israeli guided munition. Note that the weapon uses man-in-the-loop terminal guidance which is very popular with Israeli forces. You can read more about this concept of operations and these types of munitions here. The actual weapon used was not fired from an aerial platform, it was an IAI Harop "suicide" drone (seen it banner image at the top of this article). The War Zone did a full profile on this series of pioneering weapons you can read here."

Source: http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...counter-strikes-erupt-across-israel-and-syria

This guy (TYLER ROGOWAY) understand military-oriented stuff very well; quality of his information in regards to military equipment and tactics, is beyond any typical journalist.

One thing is clear that this drone was fairly advanced - independent experts and IDF have admitted as such.

And the Israeli claims that the UAV was packed with explosives are dubious and lack proof.

Dude, come on.

I fail to see a solid reason to doubt revelations from IDF because they have the wreckage, and inspected it from all angles.

This is different from the larger versions Iran is developing, and certainly different from the jet powered UCAV version that dropped guided bombs on ISIS recently.

As for the MQ-9, Iran has already captured the MQ-1C and RQ-170 so I don't think it's exactly out of the realm of possibility that they also captured a Reaper.

Iran might have developed a better drone by now - possible. Iran have substantial experience in developing drones in general. Iranian Shahed-129 drone is a reliable platform for instance (battle-proven).

Iranian military definitely have the capability to shoot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone, but this isn't happening unless the drone infiltrated Iranian airspace and was intercepted by Iranian Air Force. Thus far, no proof has surfaced for the provided claim (the very reason for the existence of this thread).

It is possible that Iran smuggled the remains of a crashed MQ-9 Reaper from Afghanistan, but I am not in the position to verify this claim. I believe that Americans would be careful after the loss of an RQ-170 variant over Iran in 2011.

We already hacked the f-22 raptor , together with Sukhoi Berkut their offspring is the Qaher .

You cannot hack an F22A Raptor or any other aircraft (unless your statement is intentionally sarcasm or a joke).

Iran receive ample input from Russia, China and DPRK for its defense-oriented needs.

B/W: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/iran-wants-stealth-fighter-isnt-it-35187

Qaher might be a laboratory setting testbed rather than a viable program.

 

[VEVAK]

Look at its size:
View attachment 521413 View attachment 521414
Rq-170 wing-span is 27 meters .. do you think it's a 1:1 copy of that?Simorgh?
View attachment 521422
Base on this I don't think it would be bigger than 6 meters.
it's Saeghe:
View attachment 521420


Making Sense with Measurents
On Nov. 11, the IDF posted an infographic on Twitter with more details, stating that the drone was indeed a copy of the RQ-170, detailing that the wingspan is 85 feet, which is roughly 26 meters. This seems to be a bigger version than the one displayed flying in the video from 2014. But is this correct? We can use the measurement from the RQ-170 to get to the wingspan of the Iranian UAV modelled after it.

(Clearly idf lied)

View attachment 521412

The original RQ-170 has a wingspan of 20m and a wingtip width of 1.6.m. From these dimensions it is possible to determine an approximate wingspan to wingtip width ratio of 12.5:1. Assuming that the broad design of the RQ-170 applies to the Iranian drone, images of the wing tips can be used to calculate its wingspan

View attachment 521408

From this image released by the IDF of the wreckage of the Iranian drone, a wingtip width of between 50-60cm can be approximated using the shoe in the frame as a reference point. Such a length would make the drone have a wingspan of 6.25-7.5m based on this 12.5:1 ratio.

Hence the IDF statement of the Iranian version to be 26 meters wide seems to be an overstatement if the footage of the wreckage being put online is to go by. More precise data on the drone is needed to very the IDF claim.

Comparing Wings and Components
Other pictures of the downed drone posted by the IDF helps us identify the version of the drone shot down by the Apache. On the image below, one can clearly see the wing shape of the drone similar to the wing shape of the drone in the footage from 2016 video.


View attachment 521419
View attachment 521409

The images of the downed drone and those put on display for Iranian TV seem to be different version compared with the drone seen flying, which has a different wing shape, though this can also be due to the flaps being up. Nonetheless, there are some other striking differences.

View attachment 521411

The drone in the image above is also larger and has an upper engine intake, compared with the smaller one displayed in the hangar, though two of those on display in the hangar have larger exhaust intakes as well, yet are missing the elevated parts on both side next to the exhaust as seen in the footage of the flying drone.

View attachment 521410

No evidence provided so far.


Israeli defenses picked on and took out an Iranian drone (a clone of the American RQ-170 Sentinel variant, in the hands of Iran), near Syrian border in 2018.

FYI: https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...42a0b2-0f13-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html

That incident suggests that Iranian copies are not at par with their American counterpart in LO and otherwise. I wonder why this is the case.

American RQ-170 Sentinel variants have excellent infiltration rates under the right conditions. Newer variants are superior to the variant in the hands of Iran by the way.

If Israeli Air Defense could have taken it out they wouldn't of needed to dispatch aircrafts! And Israel is a very small country and they could easily cover every inch of their northern boarders with thermal imaging radars to cover any low altitude threats. Hell Thermal sensors are relatively cheap and since Israel is such a small country for the cost of 2or3 F-16 radars the Israeli's can cover every inch of their boarders with layers of thermal sensors
And even the F-22's or B-2's aren't immune to thermal sensors so the fact that Israelis were able to down it within line of sight is really not impressive or a technological feat! And the fact that they were forced to use aircrafts to get within line of sight to down it shows exactly how useless their SAM were against it

And this was just a recon mission for Iran if this was a war there wouldn't be 1 UAV coming at them there would be 100's + cruise Missiles + Ballistic Missiles

 

[LeGenD]

If Israeli Air Defense could have taken it out they wouldn't of needed to dispatch aircrafts! And Israel is a very small country and they could easily cover every inch of their northern boarders with thermal imaging radars to cover any low altitude threats. Hell Thermal sensors are relatively cheap and since Israel is such a small country for the cost of 2or3 F-16 radars the Israeli's can cover every inch of their boarders with layers of thermal sensors
And even the F-22's or B-2's aren't immune to thermal sensors so the fact that Israelis were able to down it within line of sight is really not impressive or a technological feat! And the fact that they were forced to use aircrafts to get within line of sight to down it shows exactly how useless their SAM were against it

And this was just a recon mission for Iran if this was a war there wouldn't be 1 UAV coming at them there would be 100's + cruise Missiles + Ballistic Missiles

Don't get me wrong - defeating that drone was an impressive feat. It was an advanced drone by any measure.

Yes! Iran would provide a true test for Israeli defenses, if ever. Iran is easily among the most powerful Islamic countries in existence.

However, Israel is capable of surprises as well. I would not underestimate this country because it has sufficient firepower to send any Islamic country back to stone age or worse.

 

[BHarwana]

Iran has successfully hacked and landed a MQ-9.