Iran Pushes Shahed-149 Gaza Drone Into Worldwide Defense Stage
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Iran has begun promoting its Shahed-149 “Gaza” combat drone at international defense expos, according to state media. The move signals Tehran’s bid to expand military exports and challenge rivals in the global UAV market.
According to information published by Iranian media on September 29, 2025, Iran has begun actively marketing its most advanced long-endurance combat drone, the Shahed-149 “Gaza,” at international defense exhibitions. The move marks a strategic shift in Tehran’s military export policy, positioning the drone not just as a regional deterrent but as a potential competitor in the global UAV market.
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With operational service confirmed and export promotion underway, the Gaza UCAV marks a pivot in Iranian defense posture, from isolated production to active proliferation. (Picture source: Iranian media)
The latest demonstration of the Gaza UCAV during a high-profile Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exercise served as both a military signal and a sales pitch. Footage released by Iranian defense outlets shows the drone executing a precision-guided strike, underlining its operational capabilities while reinforcing Tehran’s intent to secure foreign buyers. This follows the drone’s recent appearances at exhibitions in Central Asia and North Africa, where Iranian officials reportedly held talks with potential state and non-state clients seeking alternatives to Western and Chinese UAVs.
The Shahed-149 Gaza is Iran’s most advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle to date. Designed for long-range precision strike and persistent surveillance missions, it incorporates a turboprop propulsion system capable of sustaining 35-hour sorties across a 2,500-mile radius. Its armament suite includes up to 12 Sadid-345 precision-guided bombs, with eight mounted externally and four housed in an internal weapons bay, a payload capacity that surpasses most regional counterparts and challenges even mid-tier Western designs.
Iranian engineers appear to have drawn inspiration from the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, with the Shahed-149 reflecting lessons learned from previous reverse-engineering efforts. The result is a UAV platform capable of multi-mission flexibility, integrating ISR systems with strike capabilities in a manner Iran has not previously achieved. While still lacking in sensor fusion and satellite networking when compared to NATO systems, the Gaza UCAV’s endurance and volume-based strike potential are intended to offset those gaps.
Beyond its technical specifications, what distinguishes the Shahed-149 now is its role in Iran’s foreign military sales strategy. Tehran is openly promoting the drone as an export-grade system, signaling its readiness to bypass international arms restrictions by offering capable platforms to governments and proxy forces shut out of the Western arms market. Sources within the Iranian defense industry have suggested that the Gaza UCAV is being offered as a turnkey package, with training, maintenance, and operational support.
Strategically, Iran’s decision to exhibit and market the Shahed-149 represents more than commercial ambition. It underscores Tehran’s intent to normalize its drone warfare doctrine on the global stage, projecting the Gaza as a symbol of indigenous resilience under sanctions and as a force multiplier for aligned states or non-state actors. Its combat radius places key American, Israeli, and Gulf assets within strike distance, elevating the drone’s role from tactical ISR-strike platform to strategic deterrent.
With operational service confirmed and export promotion underway, the Gaza UCAV marks a pivot in Iranian defense posture, from isolated production to active proliferation. If even a fraction of Tehran’s marketing efforts materialize into foreign contracts, the Shahed-149 could significantly alter regional drone parity and challenge the dominance of U.S.-aligned UAV programs in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Central Asia.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Iran has begun promoting its Shahed-149 “Gaza” combat drone at international defense expos, according to state media. The move signals Tehran’s bid to expand military exports and challenge rivals in the global UAV market.
According to information published by Iranian media on September 29, 2025, Iran has begun actively marketing its most advanced long-endurance combat drone, the Shahed-149 “Gaza,” at international defense exhibitions. The move marks a strategic shift in Tehran’s military export policy, positioning the drone not just as a regional deterrent but as a potential competitor in the global UAV market.
With operational service confirmed and export promotion underway, the Gaza UCAV marks a pivot in Iranian defense posture, from isolated production to active proliferation. (Picture source: Iranian media)
The latest demonstration of the Gaza UCAV during a high-profile Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exercise served as both a military signal and a sales pitch. Footage released by Iranian defense outlets shows the drone executing a precision-guided strike, underlining its operational capabilities while reinforcing Tehran’s intent to secure foreign buyers. This follows the drone’s recent appearances at exhibitions in Central Asia and North Africa, where Iranian officials reportedly held talks with potential state and non-state clients seeking alternatives to Western and Chinese UAVs.
The Shahed-149 Gaza is Iran’s most advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle to date. Designed for long-range precision strike and persistent surveillance missions, it incorporates a turboprop propulsion system capable of sustaining 35-hour sorties across a 2,500-mile radius. Its armament suite includes up to 12 Sadid-345 precision-guided bombs, with eight mounted externally and four housed in an internal weapons bay, a payload capacity that surpasses most regional counterparts and challenges even mid-tier Western designs.
Iranian engineers appear to have drawn inspiration from the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, with the Shahed-149 reflecting lessons learned from previous reverse-engineering efforts. The result is a UAV platform capable of multi-mission flexibility, integrating ISR systems with strike capabilities in a manner Iran has not previously achieved. While still lacking in sensor fusion and satellite networking when compared to NATO systems, the Gaza UCAV’s endurance and volume-based strike potential are intended to offset those gaps.
Beyond its technical specifications, what distinguishes the Shahed-149 now is its role in Iran’s foreign military sales strategy. Tehran is openly promoting the drone as an export-grade system, signaling its readiness to bypass international arms restrictions by offering capable platforms to governments and proxy forces shut out of the Western arms market. Sources within the Iranian defense industry have suggested that the Gaza UCAV is being offered as a turnkey package, with training, maintenance, and operational support.
Strategically, Iran’s decision to exhibit and market the Shahed-149 represents more than commercial ambition. It underscores Tehran’s intent to normalize its drone warfare doctrine on the global stage, projecting the Gaza as a symbol of indigenous resilience under sanctions and as a force multiplier for aligned states or non-state actors. Its combat radius places key American, Israeli, and Gulf assets within strike distance, elevating the drone’s role from tactical ISR-strike platform to strategic deterrent.
With operational service confirmed and export promotion underway, the Gaza UCAV marks a pivot in Iranian defense posture, from isolated production to active proliferation. If even a fraction of Tehran’s marketing efforts materialize into foreign contracts, the Shahed-149 could significantly alter regional drone parity and challenge the dominance of U.S.-aligned UAV programs in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Central Asia.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
