Shahed 191

Lore & Background

The Shahed 191 was revealed in October 2016, following Iran's capture of a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel in 2011. It is a smaller derivative of that aircraft, with the Shahed 191 being approximately 60% of the size of the RQ-170. The drone exists in multiple variants: the Saeqeh-1, first presented at an Iranian arms expo in 2016, which carries two Sadid-1 missiles externally and lacks a frontal air intake; and the Saeqeh-2, which carries two Sadid-1 missiles internally and features retractable landing skids. A propeller-powered variant was shown in wargames in 2019, carrying its weapons externally and landing on fixed skids.

In February 2018, Israel shot down a Shahed 191 during the Israel–Syria incident. Israeli officials described the drone as quite advanced and imitating Western technology. On 1 October 2018, the IRGC Aerospace Force used ballistic missiles and drones, reportedly including Saeqeh UAVs, to attack targets in the Abu Kamal region in eastern Syria; Iran released video they said showed a Saeqeh releasing a single Sadid-1 bomb from internal bays. In July 2022, the United States claimed that Russian officials had traveled to Iran to examine drones, including several labeled on satellite images as Shahed-191, with at least one pictured in flight near Kashan airfield.

Reader's Guide

The Shahed 191 represents Iran's most prominent effort to reverse-engineer a captured American stealth drone, the RQ-170 Sentinel, and adapt it for combat roles. Its development demonstrates Iran's ability to produce a flying-wing UCAV with internal weapons carriage, a capability previously limited to a few nations. The drone's operational use in Syria, as claimed by Iranian state media, and its interception by Israel in 2018, underscore its role in regional conflicts. The Shahed 191's design has spawned multiple variants, including a propeller-powered version, indicating ongoing refinement. The reported interest from Russian officials in 2022 suggests the drone may have attracted foreign attention. With a planned procurement of at least 50 units by 2025 and production of 10 as of 2017, the Shahed 191 is a significant component of Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle fleet, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.

Did You Know?

• The Shahed 191 is approximately 60% of the size of the captured RQ-170 Sentinel.
• It can carry two Sadid-1 missiles internally in the Saeqeh-2 variant.
• Israel shot down a Shahed 191 during the February 2018 Israel–Syria incident.
• In July 2022, the United States claimed Russian officials traveled to Iran to examine Shahed-191 drones.