Qods Yasir
Iranian reverse-engineered copy of the American ScanEagle UAV.
The Qods Yasir, also designated the Sayed-2, is a light tactical surveillance and reconnaissance drone built by Iran’s Qods Aviation. It is widely considered an unlicensed copy of the American Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, which Iran captured and reverse-engineered, though the Yasir includes several design modifications.
Iran claimed to have captured a ScanEagle on December 4, 2012, alleging it had violated Iranian airspace over the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy denied losing any ScanEagles, though other operators of the drone exist in the Middle East. Later that month, on December 17, Iran revised its claim to three captured ScanEagles and announced plans to reverse-engineer and mass-produce them, also asserting it had already done so. The Yasir was publicly unveiled in September 2013, about ten months after the initial capture. In October 2013, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gave one as a gift to the commander of the Russian Air Force.
The Yasir features swept-back wings and a large payload bubble under its nose. Unlike the ScanEagle, it has an inverted V-tail and a twin-boom tail structure. It is powered by a single, unidentified two-bladed propeller engine and carries an electro-optical payload. It can also be fitted with an explosive payload for use as a disposable strike munition. The drone is 1.19 meters long, has a wingspan of 3.05 meters, and weighs 18 kilograms—slightly smaller than the ScanEagle. Its speed is 120 km/h, with a maximum endurance of 20 hours, a service ceiling of 16,000 feet, and a communications link range of up to 100 kilometers.
Iran and Syria are the only state operators of the Yasir. It has been exported to at least one non-state actor, with allegations of exports to several more. Iranian allies have used Yasir drones in the civil wars in Iraq and Syria, likely due to their small size compared to larger Iranian UAVs. In Iran, some Yasirs are based at the drone facility on Qeshm Island. In Lebanon, after an unidentified UAV repeatedly flew over a complex belonging to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in early 2014, a lawmaker accused Hezbollah of using a Yasir for surveillance or potential assassination. Israeli sources also report Hezbollah has flown Yasirs.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Unmanned aerial vehicle
- National Origin
- Iran
- Designer
- Qods Aviation Industry Company
- Construction Date
- 2013–onwards
- Introduction
- September 28, 2013
- Developed From
- Boeing Insitu ScanEagle
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On 4 December 2012 Iran announced it had captured an American ScanEagle that violated its airspace over the Persian Gulf, though the U.S. Navy stated none of its ScanEagles were missing. Later that month, Iran amended its claim to three ScanEagles and said it would reverse-engineer and mass-produce the design, also claiming it had already done so. The UAV was unveiled to the media in September 2013 under the name Yasir. In October 2013, the IRGC presented a Yasir drone as a gift to Russian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev.
The Yasir has swept back wings and a large payload bubble under its nose. Unlike the ScanEagle, it features an inverted V-tail and a twin-boom empennage. It is powered by a single, unidentified, two-bladed propeller engine and carries an electro-optical payload, which can be replaced with an explosive payload for use as a disposable strike munition. The Yasir is slightly smaller than the ScanEagle.
Yasir UAVs have been used by Iranian allies in the civil wars in Iraq and Syria, likely due to their small footprint compared to larger Iranian UAVs. In early 2014, an unidentified UAV repeatedly flew over Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's complex, and MP Antoine Zahra accused Hezbollah of flying a Yasir to monitor and possibly assassinate Geagea. Israeli sources also say Hezbollah has flown Yasirs. The Iraqi Shia militia Harakat Hizballah al-Nujaba has received six Yasirs, and Kataib Hezbollah and Jund al-Imam Ali have reportedly received them as well. Syrian Army Yasirs were seen over Damascus in 2013 and later over Homs and Aleppo; at least three Syrian Yasirs were shot down by Al-Nusra Front.
Reader's Guide
The Qods Yasir represents a notable instance of reverse-engineering a foreign UAV, following Iran's capture of an American ScanEagle in December 2012. Its rapid unveiling in September 2013 and subsequent export to Syria and non-state actors highlight its role as a readily deployable surveillance platform for Iranian allies. The Yasir's small size and endurance of up to 20 hours make it suitable for persistent reconnaissance in conflict zones such as Iraq and Syria, where it has been used by both state and non-state operators. Its design modifications, including an inverted V-tail and twin-boom empennage, distinguish it from the ScanEagle while retaining similar performance characteristics. The drone's use by Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia militias underscores its significance as a tool for asymmetric warfare, and its alleged deployment for potential assassination missions reflects its adaptability. The Yasir's legacy is tied to Iran's broader strategy of leveraging captured technology to build a domestic UAV industry and project influence through proxy forces.
Did You Know?
- The Yasir was unveiled in September 2013, about ten months after Iran captured a ScanEagle in December 2012.
- The Yasir has an inverted V-tail and twin-boom empennage, unlike the ScanEagle.
- In October 2013, the IRGC gave a Yasir drone as a gift to Russian Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev.
- At least three Syrian Yasir UAVs were shot down by Al-Nusra Front.
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