Suicide M2 being prepared for launch during 2013 exercise (IRIB)
Finally, during a delivery ceremony in September 2013, the NEZAJA announced that they were producing the Raad-85 in cooperation with the Qods Company. 13 At the ceremony, both the M2 and Saeqeh were on display, providing no further clarification.
Specifications for the Raad are elusive. In 09/2013, a NEZAJA commander claimed the Raad had a 100 km range (equivalent to the M2). 14 Then, during a later exercise in 12/2014, another commander said that the Raad had a range of 250 km, suggesting a closer relationship to the M2N than the much shorter ranged M2 or Saeqeh. 15 16
Mohajer-2N:
The M2N (the 'N' stands for 'new') was unveiled during the 2014 Kish Airshow. Nearly identical to the M2 in outward appearance, it reportedly enjoys a significant increase in performance. This includes a 200% increase in range (from 50 km to 150 km), and a 300% increase in endurance (from 1.5 hours, to 6 hours). It is also reportedly capable of carrying underwing missile launchers. Although this capability has yet to be documented, it could likely carry any armament in a mode similar to the M2 and M4 variants described elsewhere.
It is unclear how the M2N achieves this increased range and endurance. The most likely explanation would be the addition of fuel tanks in the wings combined with weight reductions elsewhere (to explain the modest 5 kg increase in MTOW).
At the Kish Airshow, a poster showed the M2N fitted with wheeled landing gear even though the accompanying model was shown with the traditional skids.
M2N at Kish 2014 (military.ir)
Use:
In Iran, the Mohajer-2 is employed by the Army and IRGC for surveillance and attack. However, it is rarely documented in IRGC service – whether on exercise or parade – suggesting the majority are held by the Army. The majority of the Army's M2s have been documented in their ground forces. 17
In NEZAJA service, it is used for both high and low-intensity ISR. For high intensity conflicts, they are organized into or within UAV battalions to provide corps-level reconnaissance. Low intensity service includes routine border surveillance in support of ground operations, much the same way their significant helicopter fleet already operations. They are also used for non-military purposes, such as when the Army is mobilized to perform disaster relief during floods, earthquakes, or snowstorms.
The Raad-85 is expected to enter NEZAJA service in 2015, following its first tests during the Army's 12/2014 exercises. 18 Once it enters service, the Raad will be tasked with long-range strike missions. 19 This positions them alongside the NEZAJA's rocket artillery (e.g. Nazeats and Zelzals), which itself is a national-level force with a similar range (~100-300 km). Additionally, the NEZAJA is the only one of the Army's branches that will operate suicide UAVs, further widening the conceptual gap between the Raad and – for example – the role of the Air Force's PGMs, or the Navy's ASCMs. 20 21
Outside of the army, IRGC-GF was documented using a suicide strike variant during the Great Prophet 8 exercises in 02/2013.
Exports and Foreign Use:
Outside of Iran, the Mohajer-2 is operated by the
Venezuelan Air Force, where they are known by their local name
'Arpia' (Harpy). They are assigned to the 83rd UAV Squadron, which is part of the 8th ISR Aviation Group based out of the El Libertador Airbase in Maracay. 22
Venezuela's acquisition of M2s began in 2007 when they inked an agreement with Iran that included UAV production. By 2009, the state-owned company CAVIM began assembling them from knock-down kits ships from Iran. 23 They were first unveiled to the public in 06/2012. 24 By 06/2013, CAVIM claimed to have produced 15 of them. 25 Three have reportedly crashed, leaving about a dozen in service. 26 In addition, an unknown number were delivered to a state-owned oil company – PDVSA – for pipeline inspections. 27
A Venezuelan Arpia up close (FAV Club)
Beyond Venezuela, there are some reports of the Mohajer-2 being sighted over Syria. However, the available imagery is inconclusive, and the M2 cannot be positively identified.
Recognition Features:
Mohajer-3 (M3) (Dorna):
Development:
The Mohajer-3 was announced alongside the the Mohajer-2 and 4 in 1999, presumably developed during the mid-90s.28. It was supposedly designed as the initial attempt to extend the endurance of the M2. 29 It has not entered production, and was soon superseded by the Mohajer-4
The M3 is sometimes refered to as the 'Dorna', a reference to the crane bird.|
Technical Assessment:
The Mohajer-3 is a significant evolution of the Mohajer-2, and is characterized by its larger, squarish fuselage, and a redesigned tail section.
Specifications:
Speed, Cruise: 180 km/h
Range: 100 km
Endurance: 2-3 hours
Use:
There is no known operational employment of the Mohajer-3.
Recognition Features:
Mohajer-4 (M4) (Hodhod / Shahin)
Development:
The Mohajer-4 was first referenced in 1999, when it was discussed alongside the M2 and M3. 30 It was documented photographically by at least 2003, possibly earlier. By the mid-2000s, more than 34 M4s had been produced (19 in ~2005, and 15 in ~2006), out of a total of 253 Mohajer-1/2/3/4s around the same time. 31
A new generation of M4 was unveiled in 09/2014, but has yet to supplant the current generation. 32
The M4 is sometimes referred to as the Hodhod, or Shahin. 'Hodhod' is a reference to the crested Hoopoe bird, which resides across Asia, Europe, and Africa, and is present in Persian mythology. 'Shahin' is a translation of 'falcon'. These designations are discussed further below.
Technical Assessment:
The Mohajer-4 continues the evolutionary path of the M2 and M3. Its larger size and aerodynamic refinements reflect its guiding design consideration: increased range and endurance.
Physically, the M4 is characterized by a) its square fuselage, and b) wings with a tapered trailing edge, canted wingtip, and a prominent fairing where they join the lower fuselage. Control surfaces are the same and include an elevator on the horizontal stabilizer, rudders on the vertical stabilizers, and ailerons on the wings.
Although a handful of early examples are powered by different engines, the Mohajer-4 is now uniformly equipped with the 50 hp Limbach L550 four-cylinder two-stroke engine fitted with a pusher prop. The examples equipped with different engines are typically painted in bright colors and lack markings, suggesting they are prototypes belonging to the Qods Company. The
first of these is powered by an unknown 4-cylinder engine fitted with a carburetor superficially similar to that on the WAE-342. The
second is fitted with the 38 hp AR-741 rotary engine. The reasoning behind choosing the L550 is opaque and may be due to specific circumstances such as availability. 33 One can speculate that the L550 – despite weighing more, and burning fuel at twice the rate of the 741 – was chosen foremost for its power, which would allow it to carry more fuel.
The Mohajer-4 is fitted with two antenna, typically arrayed on top of the avionics bay. Although the specifics of the system are unknown, it uses the same three modes found on the M2, which are described above. 34 Since the M4 enjoys a larger payload-capacity, and has more onboard power, it is a reasonable assumption that its functional control range is greater.
The M4 can be fitted with three different optical payloads: a) a fixed forward-facing camera in the nose for navigation, b) a gimbaled EO-system for surveillance, or c) a fixed downward-facing still camera for aerial surveying. The current-generation M4 can carry either the gimbal or survey camera, but not both. In practice, only daylight cameras have been documented in use. However, the next M4 generation (described below) can carry both types simultaneously, and has been
shown fitted with a multi-channel imager. Even if these imagers were fielded immediately, their relative simplicity and lateness in arriving contrasts to the wide use of more sophisticated payloads in the similarly-sized AB3.
In 2014, the MoD revealed that the M4 could be equipped for air-defense with two QW-1 MANPADS. Lacking a dedicated system, these QW-1s would function much as they would on the ground. The operator would aline the tube with the target using onboard cameras, relying on the missile's own IR-seekers to acquire the target. Although its easy to see where this could be useful – for example, against a lone helicopter presenting itself as a target of opportunity – this system has not turned the Mohajer into a dedicated interceptor by any means.
Specifications (Mohajer-4*): 35
Length: 3.64 m
Wingspan: 5.30 m
Weight, MTOW: 175 kg
Max Speed: 180 km/h
Endurance: 3-5 hours
Ceiling: 4,500 m
Range: 150 km
* Unknown powerplant fitted to associated model.
Specifications (Hodhod A/100*): 36
Length: 3.74 m
Wingspan: 5.3X m (where x=2, 3, or 4)
Weight, MTOW: 210 kg
Speed: 200 km/h
Endurance: 3 hours
Ceiling: 4,500 m
Range: 150 km
* Shown fitted with rotary engine. See description below.
Variants:
Hodhod A/1 [A/100]:
It is unclear whether the 'Hodhod' designation applies to a specific variant with unique characteristics, or something else. One plausible explanation is that it is name used by the IRGC, while another plausible explanation is that it is an M4-variant with slightly different physical specifications.
Two specific cases have been documented:
First, in 09/2010, the designation was applied to a display model fitted with with the AR-741 engine, and painted in a bright red and white paint scheme. The accompanying placard produced by the IRGC included unique specifications that differed from those usually attributed to the M4. Specifically, it claimed that the Hodhod is slightly longer than the M4, has a slightly wider wingspan, has a larger MTOW, and possibly a shorter endurance. Because these differences are inconsistent with the use of the AR-741 in place of the more powerful L550, it is a reasonable working assumption that the 'Hodhod' designation does not refer to a variant powered by this engine. 37
Second, during a parade in 09/2010, it was applied to two M4s operated by the IRGC. These two were identical to other M4s except for a unique serial format, and – possibly – a new payload bay under the fuselage. Unlike the first case, they were fitted with the L550 and lacked the 'A/1' or 'A/100' suffix in their designation.
Shahin:
Like the Hodhod, it is unclear whether the 'Shahin' designation refers to a specific variant, or is a service-specific designation.
The designation was first applied to a
NEZAJA M4 on parade in 09/2010. By 10/2013, media sources were referring to it as a specific M4 variant, and suggesting – albeit, ambiguously – that it was NEZAJA-specific. 38 This source also noted that the Shahin's MTOW was 230 kg, higher than most descriptions of the M4's MTOW.
However, this claim is difficult to assess because the media may have based this claim entirely on the 09/2010 imagery, potentially creating a circle of erroneous confirmation based on trust in 'official' sources like Fars and Mashregh News. This is exacerbated by the tendency of most major agencies to copy and paste whole sections from preexisting articles. For example, sections from the 10/2013 article were reproduced in reports ostensibly talking about the Shahin's participation in a 12/2014 exercise, creating the illusion of independent confirmation. 39
Sadiq / Mohajer-4B:
The Sadiq – or Mohajer-4B 40 – is a significant evolution of the M4 platform that was unveiled during a defense industries
exhibition in 08/2014. No performance information is available.
There is some uncertainty over its designation because they were unveiled alongside two related MoD projects (aerial-survey and air-defense payloads). However, given the payload's parallel use on current generation M4s, it is a reasonable assumption that the M4B is a stand-alone development. It is possible that the 'Sadiq' designation may refer to any M4 equipped with the specific aerial-survey payload.
Physically, the Mohajer-4B can be recognized by:
- New landing skids
- Wings mounted midway on the fuselage; canted wingtips removed; wider span possible.
- Fuselage reshaped for better nose aerodynamics, and improved engine cooling. 41
- Expanded payload bays can now carry gimbaled and downward-facing cameras at the same time.
- Undetermined payload may be associated with new housing on the bottom fuselage.
Use:
In Iran, the M4 is employed by the Army and the IRGC for high and low intensity ISR. They are known as the Shahin in the Army's Ground Forces, and appear to be organized similarly to the M2. 42 The Ground Forces have used M4s since at least 2010 and
took delivery of a significant number in Fall 2013, emphasizing their use in border security. In November 2014, one of the M4s documented earlier on parade (SN: A041-112) was
downed by the Islamic Stateduring a surveillance flight over Diyala, Iraq. Notably, this particular UAV included a
tail-boom from a different kit(SN: A041-66), which itself was
documented during the 2013 delivery as part of another mixed kit, illustrating the modular nature of the M4's components.
Although they have not been confirmed in use by the IRIAF, IRIN, or IRIADF, an M4 was shown in the Persian Gulf during 2010's
Velayat-89 exercise, which is typically associated with the Army's air and naval forces.
They are also used for maritime surveillance by the IRGC, who have published videos of their M4s documenting the transit of international warships through the Strait of Hormuz. Among other uses, the IRGC also employs them for internal security in places like
Sistan & Baluchistan alongside the force's own Shahed UAVs.
Exports and Foreign Use:
Outside of Iran they have been documented in use over Iraq and Syria, though it is not always clear who is operating them. A handful have been reported in flight over Syria since 2012, but these may be misattributed AB3s, which are far more common. However,
an M4B was shot down over Deir az-Zohr in January 2015 and recovered.
In Iraq, in addition to the Ground Force's M4 described above, at least two more M4s have been lost in action. The
first of these was recovered near the city of Samarra in July 2014, and the
second was recovered near Kirkuk in January 2015. In the second case, the M4 bore no identifying markings, but in the first case carried several Iraqi flag decals.
Recognition Features:
Appendix: Documented Airframes and Serials:
Mohajer-2:
MX2-009 (IRGC, Great Prophet 8)
Mohajer-4:
A041-44 (09/2011)
A041-63 (04/2009)
A041-65 (09/2013) (NEZAJA)
A041-66 (09/2013) (NEZAJA)
A041-67 (unknown)
A041-80 (2010)
A041-81(?) (04/2010)
A041-90 (12/2014) (NEZASA)
A041-92 (09/2013) (NEZAJA)
A041-108 (09/2013) (NEZAJA)
A041-111 (09/2013) (NEZAJA)
A041-112 (09/2010, 11/2014) (NEZAJA)
120 (07/2014) (Iraq)
A041-A/B119 (08/2014) (unknown)
A041-A/B201 (01/2015) (Iraq/unknown)
TUAV-M4B-08 (SDW 2010)
Mohajer-4B:
P062A-007 (M4B) (Syria/unknown)
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