Shahed 149 Gaza
HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries) · Iran · first flew 2022 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Shahed 149 Gaza is a large Iranian combat-capable UAV designed to carry out long-endurance surveillance and strike missions, with a wingspan and payload class comparable to the General Atomics Predator B. Iran unveiled it in 2022 as part of a broadening family of domestically developed unmanned systems.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large Iranian UCAV with twin-boom tail and nose turboprop
- 21 m wingspan places it in MALE class
- Under-wing hardpoints for air-to-ground munitions
The large twin-boom tail, nose-mounted turboprop, and 21 m straight wing distinguish the Shahed 149 from smaller Iranian UAVs such as the Shahed-129; its overall configuration closely resembles Western MALE-class UCAVs.
Specifications
- The Shahed 149 Gaza has a length of 10 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21 m (69 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by HESA under the Iranian Ministry of Defence, the Shahed 149 was publicly unveiled in 2022 alongside several other Iranian UAV programmes. Iran's investment in unmanned systems accelerated significantly after 2015, driven by both domestic military needs and export ambitions. The type is named 'Gaza' and carries political significance in Iranian military branding.
Variants
Only the single 'Gaza' configuration has been publicly disclosed; further sub-variants may be in development.
Where you'll see it
The Shahed 149 had been displayed publicly by 2022 but detailed operational deployment information is limited; Iranian state media has claimed demonstrations of its strike capability.
Related aircraft
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