Shahed 171 Simorgh
HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) · Iran · first flew 2014 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Shahed 171 Simorgh is Iran's reverse-engineered derivative of the American RQ-170 Sentinel stealth UAV, developed after Iran claimed to have captured an intact RQ-170 that made an emergency landing on Iranian territory in 2011.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Smooth blended fuselage/wing body with a flush engine inlet above the centre body |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Reverse-engineered Boeing RQ-170 Sentinel shape with blended flying wing profile
- Cranked-arrow delta planform with no vertical tail surfaces
- Smooth blended fuselage/wing body with a flush engine inlet above the centre body
The Shahed 171 mimics the RQ-170 Sentinel's cranked-arrow flying wing shape with a blended body and no vertical fins. Compared with the genuine RQ-170, the Iranian copy appears to have cruder surface finish and slightly different proportions in available photographs. The absence of any tail surfaces and the flush upper-surface engine inlet are the primary visual signatures.
Specifications
- The Shahed 171 Simorgh has a length of 4.5 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 350 km/h (217 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In December 2011, Iran announced it had captured a largely intact RQ-170 Sentinel operated by the CIA over Afghan airspace, claiming electronic warfare brought it down. By 2014 Iran unveiled the Shahed 171 Simorgh, a similar blended-wing design intended to demonstrate indigenous reverse-engineering capability. Analysis of available imagery suggests the Shahed 171 may be primarily a demonstrator of shapes rather than a fully operational system matching the RQ-170's sensor suite.
Variants
Iran has displayed both a full-scale static exhibit and what it claims are flying examples. The degree of functional capability versus the RQ-170 original remains disputed.
Where you'll see it
The Shahed 171 has been displayed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force as a propaganda and technology demonstration. Its operational role is unclear; Iran has separate, well-documented strike-UAV programmes (the Shahed-136/238 series) that are distinct from the 171.
Related aircraft
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