April 8, 2012: Iran has introduced a new locally made UAV, the
Shaparak. This one weighs about 100 kg (220 pounds), has an 8 kg
(16 pound) payload, and endurance of 3.5 hours. The Shaparak can
operate up to 50 kilometers from the operator and at altitudes
as high as 4.5 kilometers (15,000 feet). The Iranians have been
developing UAVs since the 1980s. The ones used most frequently
are the Ababils. This is an 82 kg (183 pound) UAV with a 2.9
meter (9.5 foot) wing span, a payload of about 35 kg (77
pounds), a cruising speed of 290 kilometers an hour, and an
endurance of 90 minutes. The Ababil is known to operate as far
as 249 kilometers from its ground controller. But it also has a
guidance system that allows it to fly a pre-programmed route and
then return to its ground controllers for a landing (which is by
parachute). The Ababil can carry a variety of day and night
still and video cameras. There are many inexpensive and very
capable cameras available on the open market, as well as the
equipment needed to tran