This article's factual accuracy is
disputed. (February 2021) |
This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to
self-published sources. (August 2020) |
HESA Karrar | |
---|---|
Karrar UAV seen at the 8th International Iran Air Show on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. | |
Role | Multirole [1] |
National origin | Iran |
Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) |
Introduction | 2010 |
Status | In production [2] |
Primary users |
Iran Hezbollah |
Produced | 2010 |
Developed from | Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker |
The HESA Karrar ( Persian: کرار) is an Iranian jet-powered target drone manufactured by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) since 2010. The Karrar is a derivative of the American 1970s-era Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker target drone, probably incorporating elements from the South African Skua, with hardpoints added for munitions. The Karrar was developed during the Ahmadinejad presidency. [3]
As a target drone, the Karrar is used to train air-defense crews by simulating an aerial target. The Karrar is regularly spotted at Iranian air-defense drills, and is believed to be the replacement for Iran's aging American-built MQM-107 target drones. [4] Karrar jet unmanned-aerial-vehicles are recently equipped with Shahab-e-Saqeb (missile) and with the Majid heat-seeking 8 km range missile in order to hit air targets. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
The Karrar has a small, clipped delta wing mounted low to a cylindrical, blunt-nosed fuselage. It has a dorsal air intake for the engine and twin arrowhead-shaped endplate tailfins mounted high on the fuselage. [2]
The Karrar uses a rocket assist system to take off and is recovered by parachute. [2] It is also claimed to be capable of air launch. [2] Iranian officials have said the aircraft has surveillance capabilities, but the Karrar has no visible EO/IR sensors. [2] The Karrar is believed to have an autopilot system with INS and/or GPS guidance, and may have terrain following capability as well.[ citation needed] The Karrar is capable of both high and low altitude flight, [11] and of day and night flight. [12] It can follow a pre-programmed flight path, which can also be updated in flight. [12]
The Karrar can carry one 500 lb Mk 82 general-purpose bomb, with claimed precision guidance, on its centerline hardpoint. Alternatively, it can carry two Nasr-1 anti-ship missiles, [a] two Kowsar anti-ship missiles, or two 250 pound Mk 81 general-purpose bombs on the underwing stations, or (since 2019) a Balaban satellite-guided glide bomb. [2] [14] [15] It is believed that carrying weapons substantially reduces the Karrar's operating range. [11]
Military experts quickly noted that Karrar bears an obvious resemblance to the US Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker target drone designed in the 1970s and exported to Iran before the Iranian revolution. According to a report from Denel Dynamics, however, the Karrar is not an exact clone of the MQM-107 Streaker as some design elements have been copied from the Denel Dynamics Skua as well. [16] Technical data on the Skua was reportedly sold by one of the Skua's export customers to Iran. [2] Overall, the Karrar is not an exact copy of the MQM-107, and multiple design changes have been made. [11]
Development of the Karrar was underway as of 2002, possibly under the name "Hadaf-1". [17][ better source needed] A subscale model of the Karrar was also seen around 2004. The Karrar is also known as the "Ababil Jet"; the Ababil is an unrelated UAV also offered by the same manufacturer, HESA. [12] Iran said the Karrar took "500,000 hours" to develop, but independent analysts say this is unlikely. [18]
The Karrar was unveiled on August 23, 2010, one day after the activation of a nuclear reactor in Bushehr, by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It was framed as a "long-range bomber drone," [19] and is the first long-range UAV manufactured in Iran. [20]
Multiple sources report that the Karrar has been exported to Hezbollah. [21] [22] The Karrar has supposedly been used in the Syrian Civil War. [23]
Defense Update suggests in particular that the Karrar could be useful for using cruise missiles to target ground-based radars and naval ships. [11] In 2018, Daily Beast reporter Adam Rawnsley said that the Karrar, despite Iranian claims, does not possess the capacity to deploy weapons and is merely a target drone. [3]
Today, Karrar is regularly used by Iran's air defense force for training.[ citation needed] Karrar target drones have been used to test Mersad SAM systems, [24] S-300PMU-2 SAM systems, [25] Sayyad-2 SAM systems, [26] Fakour-90 air-to-air missiles, [27] and Sayyad-3 SAM systems. [28]
Iran reportedly used the Karrar to deploy munitions for the first time in a 2020 exercise. [29]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned 2014-2015 [2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
This article's factual accuracy is
disputed. (February 2021) |
This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to
self-published sources. (August 2020) |
HESA Karrar | |
---|---|
Karrar UAV seen at the 8th International Iran Air Show on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. | |
Role | Multirole [1] |
National origin | Iran |
Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) |
Introduction | 2010 |
Status | In production [2] |
Primary users |
Iran Hezbollah |
Produced | 2010 |
Developed from | Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker |
The HESA Karrar ( Persian: کرار) is an Iranian jet-powered target drone manufactured by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) since 2010. The Karrar is a derivative of the American 1970s-era Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker target drone, probably incorporating elements from the South African Skua, with hardpoints added for munitions. The Karrar was developed during the Ahmadinejad presidency. [3]
As a target drone, the Karrar is used to train air-defense crews by simulating an aerial target. The Karrar is regularly spotted at Iranian air-defense drills, and is believed to be the replacement for Iran's aging American-built MQM-107 target drones. [4] Karrar jet unmanned-aerial-vehicles are recently equipped with Shahab-e-Saqeb (missile) and with the Majid heat-seeking 8 km range missile in order to hit air targets. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
The Karrar has a small, clipped delta wing mounted low to a cylindrical, blunt-nosed fuselage. It has a dorsal air intake for the engine and twin arrowhead-shaped endplate tailfins mounted high on the fuselage. [2]
The Karrar uses a rocket assist system to take off and is recovered by parachute. [2] It is also claimed to be capable of air launch. [2] Iranian officials have said the aircraft has surveillance capabilities, but the Karrar has no visible EO/IR sensors. [2] The Karrar is believed to have an autopilot system with INS and/or GPS guidance, and may have terrain following capability as well.[ citation needed] The Karrar is capable of both high and low altitude flight, [11] and of day and night flight. [12] It can follow a pre-programmed flight path, which can also be updated in flight. [12]
The Karrar can carry one 500 lb Mk 82 general-purpose bomb, with claimed precision guidance, on its centerline hardpoint. Alternatively, it can carry two Nasr-1 anti-ship missiles, [a] two Kowsar anti-ship missiles, or two 250 pound Mk 81 general-purpose bombs on the underwing stations, or (since 2019) a Balaban satellite-guided glide bomb. [2] [14] [15] It is believed that carrying weapons substantially reduces the Karrar's operating range. [11]
Military experts quickly noted that Karrar bears an obvious resemblance to the US Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker target drone designed in the 1970s and exported to Iran before the Iranian revolution. According to a report from Denel Dynamics, however, the Karrar is not an exact clone of the MQM-107 Streaker as some design elements have been copied from the Denel Dynamics Skua as well. [16] Technical data on the Skua was reportedly sold by one of the Skua's export customers to Iran. [2] Overall, the Karrar is not an exact copy of the MQM-107, and multiple design changes have been made. [11]
Development of the Karrar was underway as of 2002, possibly under the name "Hadaf-1". [17][ better source needed] A subscale model of the Karrar was also seen around 2004. The Karrar is also known as the "Ababil Jet"; the Ababil is an unrelated UAV also offered by the same manufacturer, HESA. [12] Iran said the Karrar took "500,000 hours" to develop, but independent analysts say this is unlikely. [18]
The Karrar was unveiled on August 23, 2010, one day after the activation of a nuclear reactor in Bushehr, by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It was framed as a "long-range bomber drone," [19] and is the first long-range UAV manufactured in Iran. [20]
Multiple sources report that the Karrar has been exported to Hezbollah. [21] [22] The Karrar has supposedly been used in the Syrian Civil War. [23]
Defense Update suggests in particular that the Karrar could be useful for using cruise missiles to target ground-based radars and naval ships. [11] In 2018, Daily Beast reporter Adam Rawnsley said that the Karrar, despite Iranian claims, does not possess the capacity to deploy weapons and is merely a target drone. [3]
Today, Karrar is regularly used by Iran's air defense force for training.[ citation needed] Karrar target drones have been used to test Mersad SAM systems, [24] S-300PMU-2 SAM systems, [25] Sayyad-2 SAM systems, [26] Fakour-90 air-to-air missiles, [27] and Sayyad-3 SAM systems. [28]
Iran reportedly used the Karrar to deploy munitions for the first time in a 2020 exercise. [29]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned 2014-2015 [2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era