Military analysts have labeled Turkey’s newly unveiled kamikaze drone a “replica” of the Iranian-made Shahed-136 loitering munition.
When photos of the “Azab” delta-winged drone were released, analysts noted similarities with the Iranian platform.
Their shape and size look the same, as seen in photos of the Shahed taken in Ukraine.
Russia has been using the Shahed-class drones to neutralize Ukrainian military assets and attack its infrastructure.
A Turkish drone manufacturer has manufactured copies of Iranian Shahed 131 & 136 Kamikaze drones. These #Turkish drones named Azab T150 and T200 have maximum range of 200 and 500km respectively which is slightly lesser than maximum range of the #Iranian drones. pic.twitter.com/Rn4reVycAQ
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) March 20, 2023
Despite the similarities in appearance, the two suicide drones have different specifications, with the Shahed carrying a much heavier, more powerful warhead.
The Iranian drone also has a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), while the new Turkish platform can only reach 500 kilometers (310 miles).
According to Azab manufacturer Robit Technology, the unmanned platforms can accommodate different types of warheads and are made in two versions, with 2-meter (6.5 feet) and 1.5-meter (4.9 feet) wingspans.
They can be operated using GPS coordinates to reach and destroy targets or with military personnel directing the drones toward enemy assets using high-performance cameras.
The kamikaze drone has already completed flight tests and is set to undergo ammunition trials later this year.
