The Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has published online first photos of the MQ-1C Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS), captured on the territory of the Islamic republic.
Photo: Twitter.com / Tasnimnews_EN
Representatives of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have published photos of the MQ-1C Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS), captured by the IRGC forces, the Tasnim news agency reported.
Details of the operation to capture the heavy unmanned aerial vehicle have not yet been announced.
The photos do not show any significant damages of the UAS. Experts think that the drone was captured with the help of electronic warfare and then was forced to land on the territory of the Islamic republic.
In 2011, Iranian military had already used an electronic warfare system, seized control of the US RQ-170 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and landed it at their military base in the north-east of the country.
The MQ-1C Grey Eagle is a reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle, which is produced by the General Atomics Company. The first flight of the unmanned aircraft system took place in 2004. The length of the drone is eight meters, the wingspan – 17 meters. The maximum take-off weight is 1450 kg. The flight speed is 250 kilometers per hour, the flying altitude – about 9,000 meters. The flight duration is 30 hours. The MQ-1C Grey Eagle is capable to carry the Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, the Stinger missiles, and the Viper Strike glide bombs.
Photo: Twitter.com / Tasnimnews_EN
Photo: Twitter.com / Tasnimnews_EN
