Iran reveals new Fotros UCAV

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Jemiba

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Iran showed for the first time the new "Fotros" UCAV to the public. It is claimed to have
a range of up to 2,000 km, endurance of up to 30 hours, a service ceiling of 25,000 feet
and being able to carried either recce equipment or guided munitions.
(photo from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24993269)
The video on YouTube shows flight testing, too :
 

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Dare anyone to point out to them the visual similarity to the IAI Heron UAV... ;D
 
GTX said:
Dare anyone to point out to them the visual similarity to the IAI Heron UAV... ;D
Click to expand...

Did Iran capture an IAI Heron UAV and then reverse engineer it? Fotros is named for afallen angel in Shia mythology who was redeemed by Husayn ibn Ali.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fotros_%28UCAV%29
 
Triton said:
Did Iran capture an IAI Heron UAV and then reverse engineer it?
Click to expand...

Looking at the countries listed as operators, I don't think, they had to "capture" it. Sending
a delegation and offering something in exchange could well have been enough !
 
First the so called stealth fighter now this UCAV based on/copied from the Israeli Heron don't make me laugh.
 
ALCON,


For those interested, there is a video showing this UAV in flight, which confirms it's no mock-up. Also, images of the UAV suggest it is quite large (larger than the Shahed-129 MALE-type UAV deputed several months ago), but few exact specifications have yet to be provided.


IMHO, it's not likely quite as large dimensionally as the IAI Eitan but still quite large.


The real mystery concerning it the fact it looks like it was built to carry a SATCOM antenna but since we know Iran has no communication satellites of their own, one wonders why it was designed in this way. I personally theorize the "bulge" section for an antenna is there for aerodynamic testing and the final produce may not feature the "bulged" section and have a nose-section more similar to the Shahed-129, but that's just a theory on my part.


Here is the link to the video which shows the Fotros UAV in-flight (starting at 0:40):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q90e0v1xEO8#t=40


Here are some additional images of the Fotros UAV:
 

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Hi there. I'm not quite sure this is the relevant thread but there's a link anyway. So, for lack of better place to post this piece information, here we go. Whatever Iranese now fly, can easily be downed. As to the hardware side of intel, it seesm to be crude down to the point of using GoPro video cams! IDF reverse engineer this downed, crude system.
http://nanojv.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/reverse-engineering-drone-hamas/
A.
 
Antigravite,


Actually, all evidence actually seems to show that Hamas' drones are of their own creation, hence why they are so "crude" even in comparison to Iran's first Mohajer-type drones of the Iran-Iraq War!


The video from this drone/UAV flying show that while it can fly, it is not exactly stable flight or "smooth" (suggesting crude control system), whereas ANY video of ANY Iranian UAV will show a stable/smooth flying platform.


Effectively, Hamas did what their Iranian counterparts started doing in the early stages of the Iran-Iraq War: cobble-together the first crude tactical UAV/drones with what limited materials you have. However, Hamas's crude design and highly publicized video suggests that to some degree, publicity was exactly what the drone was built for, whereas Iran's use of drones, including armed drones (a world-first) was not well-known until decades after the war.



Thus, trying to connect the quality of a Hamas-assembled drone to ANY Iranian drone/UAV is without basis in reality.
 
Eagle2009 said:
..., whereas Iran's use of drones, including armed drones (a world-first) was not well-known until decades after the war.
Click to expand...


News to the Israelis, probably.
 
Eagle2009 said:
Antigravite,

Actually, all evidence actually seems to show that Hamas' drones are of their own creation, hence why they are so "crude" even in comparison to Iran's first Mohajer-type drones of the Iran-Iraq War!

The video from this drone/UAV flying show that while it can fly, it is not exactly stable flight or "smooth" (suggesting crude control system), whereas ANY video of ANY Iranian UAV will show a stable/smooth flying platform.

Effectively, Hamas did what their Iranian counterparts started doing in the early stages of the Iran-Iraq War: cobble-together the first crude tactical UAV/drones with what limited materials you have. However, Hamas's crude design and highly publicized video suggests that to some degree, publicity was exactly what the drone was built for, whereas Iran's use of drones, including armed drones (a world-first) was not well-known until decades after the war.

Thus, trying to connect the quality of a Hamas-assembled drone to ANY Iranian drone/UAV is without basis in reality.
Click to expand...

Hi Eagle2009. Thx alot for this comment, shedding some light on these infowar news, now with a better perspective. Thx again. A.
 
_Del_


Depends on the exact timeline, but most reports I have seen (and images provided) show Iran's forces used them by as early as 1984, whereas reports of armed Israeli drones (let alone their use) is actually a relatively new entry in the history of "UCAVs".


Iran's first armed drones were however, relatively rudimentary. They were Mohajer-1 fitted with up-to three PG-7 grenades under the wing. They were used against Iraqi forces (including armored units), with at least some effect. However, Iraqi forces soon learned to listen for the distinctive "buzzing" the Mohajer-1's small engine made their use was then discontinued.
 
Malipa,


Actually this is something of an old story, but if you had actually read my previous posts or watched the video I posted several responses up, you would know that the Fotros is NOT a mock-up but an actually flying concept/design. Whether it's in production or use yet (unlike the MQ-1 sized Shahed-129, which is not only in production but has been spotted in the skies over Syria), is another story.
 
A Russian delegation has visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in the last month to examine weapons-capable drones, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan and satellite imagery obtained exclusively by CNN.
Iran began showcasing the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones, also known as UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to Russia at Kashan Airfield south of Tehran in June, US officials told CNN. Both types of drones are capable of carrying precision-guided missiles.
"We have information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs," Sullivan told CNN in a statement.
Click to expand...
edition.cnn.com

Exclusive: Russians have visited Iran at least twice in last month to examine weapons-capable drones

A Russian delegation has visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in the last month to examine weapons-capable drones, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan and satellite imagery obtained exclusively by CNN.
edition.cnn.com edition.cnn.com
 
And why not showcase your latest product to potential customers ? IF the story is 'true' its just another weapons sale similar to those carried out by every other state.
In this case the whole thing sounds like planted disinformation and an attempt to justify deliveries of similar to Ukraine :/
 
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@TsrJoe - In war, truth is the first casualty. There is an operational logic to your premise. As to not sending your latest and greatest. I would surmise that the potential risk of sub-optimal performance in the eyes of other potential customers might be a reason for not putting the latest into the battle until you can test it in less kinetic operations.
 

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