Karrar (UCAV)
| Karrar | |
|---|---|
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| An artist's drawing of Karrar | |
| Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| Manufacturer | Defense industry of Iran |
| First flight | 2009 |
| Primary user | Iran |
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Karrar (Persian: کرار karrār, "striker",[1] is an unmanned combat air vehicle produced for the military of Iran. According to reports, the UCAV can bomb targets at high speed.[2] It is the first long-range unmanned aerial drone manufactured in Iran.[3]
Design and development
The long-range drone was unveiled on August 23, 2010, one day after the activation of the nuclear reactor in Bushehr. Television footage showed the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad applauding as a blue cloth was pulled back to reveal a short aircraft, painted in military-green with the words Bomber jet on its side. The ceremony was held in a hall of Tehran's Malek Ashtar University.[2] Later, the President Ahmadinejad stated, "This jet is a messenger of honour and human generosity and a saviour of mankind, before being a messenger of death for enemies of mankind."[4]
Iranian state TV said the Karrar has a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) and could carry two 115 kilograms (254 lb) bombs, or a precision-guided munition of 227 kilograms (500 lb).[4] The Karrar can also carry four Kowsar light anti-ship missiles or one Nasr-1 anti-ship missile.[5] The Karrar unmanned combat air vehicle is 4 metres (13 ft) long,[6][7] and is powered by a turbojet engine, giving a top speed of 900 kilometres per hour (560 mph).[8] The Karrar uses a rocket assist system to assist in take off and is recovered by parachute.
According to some western military analysis, the Karrar bears a striking resemblance to the MQM-107 target drone designed in the 1970s. According to a report from Denel Dynamics, however, the UCAV has significant design differences including the tailplane.[9]
Specifications
 Karrar UCAV during its test flight | |
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Another view of Karrar UCAV test flight | |
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Karrar UCAV inauguration ceremony | |
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Karrar UCAV |
General characteristics
- Length: ()
- Wingspan: ()
- Height: ()
- Powerplant: 1 × Toloue-4 or Toloue-5 non afterburner turbojet, 3.7 kN / 4.4 kN ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: ~900 km/h[10]
- Combat radius: 1000 km / (400 km when fully loaded) ()
- Endurance: ~1 hours fully loaded
Armament
- Hardpoints: 5 in total (4× under-wing, 1× under-fuselage)
- Missiles:
- Anti-ship missiles: Kowsar, Sadid-1
- Bombs: One 1000lb or two 500lb bomb(s)
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
See also
- Shahed 129
- Unmanned combat air vehicle
- List of military equipment manufactured in Iran
- The Nightmare of the Vultures
References
- ↑ "Iran Shows Off Unmanned, Long-Range Bomber". VOA News. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- 1 2 Vogelaar, Rob (August 22, 2010). "Iran Unveils New Karar Bomber Drone". Aviation News. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ↑ Daragahi, Borzou (August 23, 2010). "Iran Reveals its Own Drone". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- 1 2 "Iran unveils first bomber drone". BBC News. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Iran Unveils Domestically Produced Bomber Drone". Defense News. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ↑ Iran unveils 'unmanned bomber', Aljezeera
- ↑ "Iran unveils 'ambassador of death' bomber - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - Iran - msnbc.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ↑ The Associated Press (August 22, 2010). "CBC News - World - Iran unveils its own drone aircraft". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ↑ Keith Campbell. "New Iranian unmanned warplane not a SA copy, except, maybe, for the tailplane". Engineering News. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ↑ Hamshahri Online
External links
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