H-110 Sarir
Iranian twin-engine UAV with disputed air-to-air capability and stealth claims.
The H-110 Sarir (Persian for "Throne") is an Iranian drone first shown in April 2013 by the IRIA. It is built for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance work, using electro-optical and infrared sensors. According to Iranian state media, it might be able to carry air-to-air missiles, but no outside source has confirmed this. The aircraft has two pylons under the inner wings for carrying equipment.
Its range and endurance are not clearly known. Iranian state media claim the Sarir has stealth features, but its twin propellers—one pulling at the front, one pushing at the rear—create a large radar signature, as do the external pylons. The airframe also lacks typical low-observable design elements like angled tail surfaces or a blended wing body.
About ten are thought to be in service.
The Sarir’s body is roughly 7 meters long, with a 9-meter wingspan and a height under 2 meters. It can fly at altitudes between 3,500 and 5,500 meters, with flight times of 8 to 12 hours. Its payload capacity is estimated at around 100 kilograms. Notable features claimed include radar evasion, long range, high endurance, the ability to carry weapons and cameras, and longer flight times than manned aircraft. It is said to be effective at identifying targets, engaging them, and photographing enemy positions.
The drone uses two piston-propeller engines: one at the front of the fuselage for traction, the other at the rear for thrust. This is the first and only Iranian combat UAV with such a setup. The twin-engine design offers better reliability, higher speed, greater ceiling, improved takeoff power, and more cargo capacity. The main reason for two engines is to provide enough lift for air-to-air missiles, since carrying two under the wings on a drone this size creates significant drag. Placing both engines in the fuselage, rather than on the wings, reduces air resistance and overall weight while improving survivability and reliability on long or risky missions. However, two engines may burn more fuel than a single engine of similar technology.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Unmanned combat air vehicle
- Introduction
- 2013
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The H-110 Sarir was unveiled in April 2013 by IRIA. It is the first and currently the only combat UAV in Iran to use a twin piston-propeller engine configuration, with one engine at the front of the fuselage for traction and another at the end for thrust. This design is intended to provide increased operational reliability, higher achievable speed, greater flight ceiling, better takeoff power, and increased cargo capacity. The use of two engines is specifically aimed at providing the necessary power to carry air-to-air missiles, as carrying two missiles under the wings on a UAV of this size would significantly increase drag. Placing both engines in the fuselage is said to reduce air resistance and overall weight compared to traditional wing-mounted engines, while also increasing survivability and reliability on long or high-risk missions. However, the twin-engine setup may increase overall fuel consumption compared to a single engine of similar technology.
Iranian state media have claimed the UAV has stealth characteristics, but its use of twin propellers in a tractor-pusher configuration would create a very large radar cross section, as would its external stores pylons. The airframe also fails to exhibit recognized low observable shaping such as canted tail surfaces and blended wing body structures. Range and endurance data for the type remains unclear. The Sarir is equipped with electro-optic and infra-red sensors for its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role.
Reader's Guide
The H-110 Sarir occupies a notable but ambiguous position in Iran's UAV inventory. As the first Iranian combat UAV to employ a twin-engine tractor-pusher configuration, it represents an attempt to increase payload and endurance for potential air-to-air missions. However, the aircraft's significance is tempered by unresolved questions about its actual capabilities. Iranian state media claims of stealth characteristics are contradicted by the aircraft's design features—twin propellers, external pylons, and conventional shaping—which would produce a large radar cross section. The claim that the Sarir may carry air-to-air weapons has not been independently verified, leaving its combat role uncertain. With an estimated 10 units believed to be in service, the Sarir appears to be a limited-production platform rather than a mass-deployed system. Its operational range and endurance data remain unclear, further complicating assessment of its practical utility. The Sarir's legacy is thus one of ambition and controversy: it showcases Iranian efforts to develop multirole UAVs with advanced mission profiles, but its actual performance and effectiveness remain largely unconfirmed by independent sources. It is often discussed alongside other Iranian UAVs such as the Karrar and Shahed 129, reflecting Iran's broader push into unmanned systems.
Did You Know?
- The H-110 Sarir was unveiled in a ceremony in April 2013 by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
- Iranian state media claims the Sarir has stealth characteristics, but its twin propellers and external pylons would create a large radar cross section.
- The aircraft is fitted with twin inboard wing pylons to support stores carriage, and may be capable of carrying air-to-air weapons, though this has not been independently verified.
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