Ababil
Encyclopedia
The Ababil is an Iranian made UAV
. Iran has developed a number of variants, including the tactical Ababil-5 for medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance, the Ababil-T for short/medium-range attack, and also the Ababil-B and -S.
. It is powered by a simple two-bladed pusher propeller with a rear mounted wing and a front canard for good stall, stability and maneuverability characteristics. It can be launched from a rail mounted on the back of a truck which provides power for the pneumatic launcher. A rocket launch system can be used from a ship deck, and can be assembled or broken down for portability. A parachute recovery system provides a descent rate of 4 m/s, while skids can be used for conventional landings on a runway or field.
It has a maximum operational radius of 150 km (93.2 mi) and a maximum ceiling of 14,000 ft (4,268 m). It has the ability to travel at a maximum speed of 300 km/h and is capable of carrying a 45 kg (88 lb.) payload. It has a surveillance configuration, carrying a camera and digital communications equipment, but also an attack configuration, carrying a high-explosive warhead that would be delivered by the UAV crashing onto a target.
has said that Hezbollah received at least 12 Ababils before the 2006 Lebanon War, and launched three into Israel during the conflict, though all three were shot down by Israeli jets before inflicting damage.
On March 16, 2009, US forces in Iraq
reported they shot down, using an F-16 warplane, an Iranian Ababil 3 drone on February 25, 2009 that had been flying through Iraqi airspace for "almost an hour and 10 minutes." The drone crashed about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, 12 miles inside Iraqi territory near the town of Balad Ruz
in Diyala province. Officials at Iraq's Defense and Interior ministries suggested that the drone might have been scouting for routes to smuggle Iranian weapons into the country. The New York Times, however, speculated that the drone was monitoring Iranian dissidents in Iraq, such as those at Camp Ashraf
, which is located near where the drone crashed. But Maj Gen Abdul Aziz Mohammed Jassim, head of military operations at the Iraqi defense ministry stated the drone's entry into Iraq was a genuine mistake, "It crossed 10km into Iraq, It's most likely that its entrance was a mistake", he said.
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
. Iran has developed a number of variants, including the tactical Ababil-5 for medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance, the Ababil-T for short/medium-range attack, and also the Ababil-B and -S.
Performance
The Ababil is much smaller than manned airplanes. The length of 2.9 m is shorter than a Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
. It is powered by a simple two-bladed pusher propeller with a rear mounted wing and a front canard for good stall, stability and maneuverability characteristics. It can be launched from a rail mounted on the back of a truck which provides power for the pneumatic launcher. A rocket launch system can be used from a ship deck, and can be assembled or broken down for portability. A parachute recovery system provides a descent rate of 4 m/s, while skids can be used for conventional landings on a runway or field.
It has a maximum operational radius of 150 km (93.2 mi) and a maximum ceiling of 14,000 ft (4,268 m). It has the ability to travel at a maximum speed of 300 km/h and is capable of carrying a 45 kg (88 lb.) payload. It has a surveillance configuration, carrying a camera and digital communications equipment, but also an attack configuration, carrying a high-explosive warhead that would be delivered by the UAV crashing onto a target.
Service
IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
has said that Hezbollah received at least 12 Ababils before the 2006 Lebanon War, and launched three into Israel during the conflict, though all three were shot down by Israeli jets before inflicting damage.
On March 16, 2009, US forces in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
reported they shot down, using an F-16 warplane, an Iranian Ababil 3 drone on February 25, 2009 that had been flying through Iraqi airspace for "almost an hour and 10 minutes." The drone crashed about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, 12 miles inside Iraqi territory near the town of Balad Ruz
Balad Ruz
Balad Ruz is a small village in the Diyala province of Iraq. Its mayor is Mohamed Maroof Al-Hussein.Balad Ruz has a radio station that was opened Dec. 18 2006, known as Al Noor Radio Station, also known as “The Light”....
in Diyala province. Officials at Iraq's Defense and Interior ministries suggested that the drone might have been scouting for routes to smuggle Iranian weapons into the country. The New York Times, however, speculated that the drone was monitoring Iranian dissidents in Iraq, such as those at Camp Ashraf
Camp Ashraf
Camp Ashraf or Ashraf City is situated northeast of the Iraqi town of Khalis, about 120 kilometers west of the Iranian border and 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, and is the seat of the People's Mujahedin of Iran in Iraq...
, which is located near where the drone crashed. But Maj Gen Abdul Aziz Mohammed Jassim, head of military operations at the Iraqi defense ministry stated the drone's entry into Iraq was a genuine mistake, "It crossed 10km into Iraq, It's most likely that its entrance was a mistake", he said.
See also
- Military of IranMilitary of IranThe Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran include the IRIA and the IRGC and the Police Force .These forces total about 545,000 active personnel . All branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces...
- Iranian military industryIranian military industryIran's military industry has taken great strides in the past 25 years, and now manufactures many types of arms and equipments. According to Iranian officials, the country sold $100 million worth of military equipment in 2003. and as of 2006 had exported weapons to 57 countries...
- Current Equipment of the Iranian Army
- Historical Equipment of the Iranian ArmyHistorical Equipment of the Iranian ArmyThis article will only consider military equipment that has been used since 1925, and is no longer considered 'standard issue' within the regular armed forces....
External links
- http://www.armscontrol.ru/UAV/mirsad1.htm