How Iran’s American-style drones compare to US models PHOTO

Iran recently showcased the Shahed 149 drone, also known as the “Gaza” drone, which bears a striking resemblance to the US Reaper drone.

With advanced capabilities, including a high-powered camera and a flight range of over 1,000 km on 35-hour missions, the Shahed 149 is the latest in a series of Iranian drones modelled after US systems. Other examples include the Yasir, a copy of the US ScanEagle, and the Saeqeh, which mimics the RQ-170.

The US Reaper drone evolved from the Predator, which was initially deployed for reconnaissance but later became an essential tool for the US military, particularly during the Global War on Terror. Conducting thousands of strikes in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen, an article by The National points out that the Reaper was valued for its long flight endurance—often exceeding 30 hours—and its ability to provide persistent surveillance.

Equipped with a Wide Area Motion Imaging (WAMI) sensor, the Reaper can capture high-resolution footage of vast areas. “Super resolution – I'm simplifying a lot here – is taking a lot of imagery from multiple cameras, and then you basically bring the imagery all together,” says Robi Sen, an independent drone technology consultant. The technology allows Reapers to capture imagery at gigapixel resolutions—20 times clearer than an iPhone 15’s camera.

Infrared (IR) imaging is another key advantage. The Reaper can detect objects in shadows and at night using IR sensors cooled to -150°C. “When you stitch all that imagery together, you can get one really good image, maybe 10 times better than any of the cameras can do by themselves,” Sen explains.

The Lynx multi-mode radar further enhances the Reaper’s capabilities, using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to create images through radar waves, allowing it to “see” through clouds. It also includes a Ground-Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), which can detect individuals moving at slow speeds. The Lynx system features automatic object recognition and can operate for over 40 hours in some configurations.

Powered by a Honeywell T76 engine, the Reaper reaches speeds over 480 km/h. Its endurance is also aided by strong yet lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and titanium, contributing to a price tag of about $30 million per unit.

How Iran’s Shahed 149 compares

Experts say the Shahed 149 is not as capable as the Reaper due to sanctions limiting Iran’s access to critical technology, including microchips, cryocoolers for IR detection, and advanced metals like titanium. Despite this, Iran has become adept at reverse engineering and smuggling essential components, with many of its drones containing US-made parts.

While Iran’s military budget is a fraction of the US’s, $16 billion vs. $850 billion in 2024 respectively, its drones may still be effective due to mass production potential. However, the article notes that Iran faces challenges in scaling up production and has been known to steal foreign engines. Unlike the cheap and expendable Shahed 136 "kamikaze drones" used in Ukraine and by Houthi forces, the Shahed 149 is a more complex, reconnaissance-focused UAV.

Taimur Khan, a researcher at Conflict Armament Research, has analyzed Iranian drones used in conflicts. “We have seen cryocooling equipment used for optics in the Mohaher-6,” he told the publication. However, Iranian drones often rely on commercially available DSLR cameras and video equipment instead of military-grade optics.

Iran’s inertial navigation systems (which operate without GPS) are another weak point. “We don’t think they make them from scratch; they still require a lot of smuggled non-domestic technology from the US, Japan, and China,” Khan explains. “Even though those components are made by Western manufacturers, they are still in a position to acquire them relatively easily from Chinese distributors.”

Despite technological gaps, rapid advances in microchips may allow Iran to improve the Shahed 149’s S-813 SAR radar. However, its capabilities currently lag behind the Reaper’s Lynx radar. “Synthetic Aperture Radar is relatively old technology. I'm not surprised the Iranians can do it,” says Thomas Withington, an electronic warfare expert. “For drones, it's perfect, because you're flying along and the act of flying creates this artificially large antenna. You need a good processor to do it, but that’s not impossible with the chips you can buy now.”

Sanctions and smuggling

Daniel Salisbury, an expert on sanctions evasion, notes that Iran has become skilled at circumventing trade restrictions, making it difficult for the West to block its defense supplies. “The sheer amount of trade moving around the globe makes uncovering, tracking, and interdicting even large shipments difficult,” he says.

Sanctioned components are often mislabeled as “machinery” or shipped in small parts to avoid detection. Some goods are transported using state-controlled logistics rather than commercial routes to minimize the risk of interception.

“The dual-use nature of many of these goods makes countering the trade even more challenging,” Salisbury explains. Many items used in drone production have legitimate civilian applications, making it harder to pressure countries like China into shutting down supply chains.

Microchip smuggling is particularly difficult to stop. “Chips are much smaller and easier to transfer. We have seen cases where procurement agents are personally trafficking them in suitcases on commercial flights, for example, or in diplomatic pouches,” Salisbury reveals. Iran relies on long and complex semiconductor supply chains, making it nearly impossible to fully block its access to the components needed for drone manufacturing.

Despite Iran’s progress, copying technology has its limits. The US is already deploying next-generation drone capabilities, such as the T-Soar pod, which can record enemy radar signals and broadcast them back, making the drone nearly invisible on radar.

“The problem for the Iranians is that they're in danger of not just falling a generation behind, but actually being two generations behind in radar technology,” Withington warns. While Iran may continue improving its drones through smuggling and reverse engineering, it still faces major limitations in competing with Western drone technology.

By Nazrin Sadigova