Shahed-171 jet drone caught on video during tests
Iran tests the Shahed-171 drone. Unlike the Shahed-136, it is equipped with a jet engine. The new drone does not need a launcher to take off. He takes off from an ordinary pickup truck. Footage of the latest UAV test was published in X by the OSINTNic investigator.
In addition to the tests, the video shows the UAV production process. No boosters are required for the Shahed-171 to take off. The drone takes off right from a pickup truck moving at high speed.
Production of the Shahed-171 UAV and footage of its operation pic.twitter.com/Ey671UCScd
– OSINTNic (@OSINTNic) November 16, 2023
The Shahed-171 Simorgh is positioned by the Iranian defense industry as a reconnaissance drone. It is made in the shape of a wing. The naked eye can see that the Iranian drone was copied from the American RQ-170 drone. The US Army has used such drones to gather intelligence. The Iranian version can carry a warhead with explosives, guided missiles and other weapons.
With a fuselage length of 4.5 meters, the wingspan of the Shahed-171 is 13 meters. The drone can accelerate up to 460 km/h. It has a flight range of 4,400 km. The UAV can stay in the air for up to 10 hours.