Samad

Houthi/Yemeni armed groups (Iran-derived design) · Yemen · first flew 2017 · bomber

The Samad is a Houthi one-way attack UAV used by Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, closely related to Iranian loitering munition designs and used in strikes against Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Small cruise-missile-like UAV with straight mid-mounted wings and twin tail fins
• Pusher piston engine at rear of cylindrical fuselage
• No landing gear; air-launched or catapult-launched for one-way attacks

Cylindrical fuselage with straight mid-mounted wings and a rear pusher engine gives a cruise-missile appearance. Twin fins at the tail rather than a conventional empennage. Very similar in planform to Iranian Shahed-series loitering munitions.

Specifications

• The Samad has a length of 2.8 m (9 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 3.6 m (12 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
• Typical crew: 0.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The Samad (Arabic: steadfast) family of UAVs was first revealed by Houthi forces around 2017-2018 and used in a series of high-profile attacks including strikes on Abu Dhabi International Airport in January 2022 and repeated attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. Iran's IRGC is widely assessed to have provided technology transfer and components. The Samad-3 variant was claimed capable of reaching targets 1,500 km away.

Variants

Samad-1 (short range); Samad-2 (extended range); Samad-3 (claimed 1,500 km range with turbojet).

Where you'll see it

Operated by Houthi forces in Yemen; used in attacks throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea shipping lanes.

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