Shahed 161
HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries) · Iran · first flew 2021 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Shahed 161 is an Iranian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with a blended swept-wing design, intended for reconnaissance and strike missions with reduced radar cross-section.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Blended-wing UCAV body with swept leading edges and a V-tail |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Blended-wing UCAV body with swept leading edges and a V-tail
- Single turbofan engine inlet above the fuselage spine
- Stealthy flat underside with no external weapon pylons visible
Swept blended-wing body with V-tail is the primary cue. Dorsal engine intake above the spine distinguishes it from belly-intake configurations. Small overall size — roughly car-sized — relative to its wide planform.
Specifications
- The Shahed 161 has a length of 4 m (13 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.8 m (12 ft).
- Typical crew: 0.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Iran unveiled the Shahed 161 in 2021 as part of a family of indigenous UCAVs. The design borrows visual elements from the Shahed 191 but uses a more conventional turbofan powerplant rather than a piston engine. Little has been confirmed about its operational status or deployment.
Variants
No publicly confirmed production variants as of 2024.
Where you'll see it
Claimed by Iranian state media to have been delivered to the IRGC Air Force; operational details remain unconfirmed.
Related aircraft
- Shahed 149 Gaza
- Shahed 191
- DJI Agras R18 Octocopter
- Shahed-136
- Airbus Helicopters VSR700
- DeViRo Leleka-100M2R
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.