Qods Mohajer-6 Explained

The Mohajer-6 (Persian: پهپاد مهاجر-6) is an Iranian single-engine multirole ISTAR^[1] UAV capable of carrying a multispectral surveillance payload and/or up to four precision-guided munitions.

The Mohajer-6 was unveiled in April 2016^[2] and entered mass production in February 2018.^[3] As of February 2018, ten have been manufactured for the IRGC Ground Forces, and 40 are planned for the IRGC Navy. It complements the larger Shahed 129 operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force. The drone has also been delivered to the Iranian Army.

Design

The Mohajer-6 has a rectangular fuselage, an upwards-sloping nose, twin tailbooms, a top-mounted horizontal stabilizer, uncanted wingtips, straight wings mounted high and to the rear of the body, and air intakes on the top and bottom of the engine. The Mohajer-6 is controlled by two elevators on the horizontal stabilizer, rudders on the vertical stabilizers, and two flaps per wing. Unlike other Mohajer variants, it has a three-bladed propeller. According to a specification sheet provided by the Iran Ministry of Defense, the Mohajer-6 has a wingspan of 10 meters and is 5.67 meters long.^[4] It is similar in shape to the Selex ES Falco.

As with other members of the Mohajer family, the Mohajer-6 is made of composite.^[5] The Mohajer-6 has fixed tricycle landing gear, which underwent changes between the unveiling ceremony in 2017 and mass production in 2018, perhaps to accommodate more weight.^[6] It is launched and recovered via runway takeoff/landing.^[7]

It has a fixed, forward-facing camera for navigation and a gimbal on the chin for a laser range finder and multispectral IR and visible light electro-optical imagery.^[8] The Mohajer-6 has three antennas, two on its left wing and one on its right, and a pitot tube on its nose. The Mohajer-6 has two main variants. The A variant has two hardpoints, one under each wing, which can each carry one Qaem TV/IR-guided missile or one Almas missile.^[9] The B variant has four hardpoints, with two under each wing carrying the same types of missiles. It has an autopilot system capable of automatic takeoff and landing. In addition, Iran describes it as capable of being fitted with electronic support measures, communications jamming, or electronic warfare payloads.^[8]

In August 2022, the Mohajer-6 was reported to be equipped with the Almas missile.^[10]

Performance

The Mohajer-6 has a maximum takeoff weight of 600–670 kg and can carry about 100–150 kg in armaments, depending on model. The ground control station of Mohajer-6 has 200–500 km range. It has a maximum speed of 200 km/h, an endurance of 12 hours, and a 16,000-18,000 ft (4600-5500 m) ceiling.^{[11] [12]}

Multiple sources say that although the Mohajer-6 is designed by Qods Aviation, it is manufactured by Qods' longtime rival, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA).^[13] Both Qods and HESA are subsidiaries of Iran's state-owned Aerospace Industries Organization.

Specifications

Specifications of Mohajer-6 from Qods Aviations and Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA):

Although the manufacturing company did not officially release the specifications and announcements for Mohajer-6, according to the information published by Iran's domestic news agencies, the specifications for two models are reported in June 2017 and August 2022 as follows.^{[14] [11]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 per ground control station
• Length: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Wing span: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Max. take-off mass: 600/670 kg (1,323/1,477 lb)
• Payload: 100/150 kg (220/330 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × 115 hp Water-cooled 4-stroke internal combustion engine, either Austrian Rotax 914 or indigenous engine from HESA)^[15]
• Propeller: 3-bladed
• Fuel type: gasoline (petrol)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 km/h (110 knots)
• Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 knots)
• Radius of action: 2,000/2400 km (1,080/1,300 nmi)
• Ground Communication range: 200-500 kilometres (130/312 mi)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
• Operational altitude: 16,000/18,000 ft (4,876/5,486 m)
• Endurance: 12 hours

ArmamentsFour slots for guided missiles or bombs under the wings and two slots under the main fuselage.

The armament mounting and launching system of Mohajer-6 is similar to many other UAV models operating within the Iranian armed forces and many types of air-to-ground, air to air missiles, guided rockets, guided mortars, electronic countermeasure and radar detection and warning pods can be used with Mohajer-6 ammunition launching system.

Operational history

Some Mohajer-6s were reported to be based at Qeshm Island.^[16]

In July 2019, Iran used the Mohajer-6 against PJAK militants.^[17] The Mohajer-6 has reportedly been used against Jaish ul-Adl in 2023.^[18]

In September 2022, a Russian Telegram post claimed, that Russia used a Mohajer-6 to guide Geran-2 suicide drones to their targets in Ukraine during their Invasion of Ukraine.^[19] In the same month, Iran had also used the drone to attack Kurdish political party headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iran has supplied these drones to the Sudanese Army during the Sudanese civil war.^[20] It has been allegedly used during the Battle of Khartoum.^[21]

Operators

• Ethiopia: Reported to be used by Ethiopia.^[22]
• :
  • Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces^[23]
  • Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy:^[24] 15 known to be in service.^[25]
  • Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces^{[2] [26]}
• Iraq:
  • Popular Mobilization Forces^{[27] [28] [29]}
• : Bought and used by Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[30] This has been indirectly confirmed on 23 September 2022, when a Mohajer-6 crashed in the Black Sea near the coast of Odesa.^{[31] [32]}
  • • Sudanese Armed Forces^[33]
• :
  • Syrian Armed Forces^[34]
• : It was reported in November 2020 that technology transfer was likely done.^[35] A Venezuelan Mohajer-6 was reported to be seen in Caracas in the same month.^[36] President Nicolás Maduro claimed that the country can one day export Venezuelan-made drones.^[37]

Notes and References

1. Keshavarz and Bunker . March 2018 . Iran Develops UAS with 'Smart Bomb' Capability . Operational Environment Watch: Foreign News & Perspectives of the Operational Environment . 8 . 3 . 18 . Foreign Military Studies Office .
2. Web site: Jeremy Binnie . 18 July 2019 . Iranian army deploys armed UAVs . . London.
3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180716094844/http://www.janes.com/article/77677/iran-s-mohajer-6-armed-uav-goes-into-production. 2018-07-16. Iran's Mohajer 6 armed UAV goes into production . Jeremy . Binnie . February 7, 2018 . Jane's Information Group .
4. https://imp-navigator{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (dot) livejournal (dot) com/638301.html
5. Web site: گزارش|استقرار پرنده های جدید نزاجا در مرز ایران و افغانستان/ ارتش به پهپادهای 2هزار کیلومتری مجهز شد- اخبار سیاسی - اخبار تسنیم - Tasnim . Report: Deployment of new Nazaja birds on the Iran-Afghanistan border / The army was equipped with 2,000 km drones - Political news - Tasnim news - Tasnim . خبرگزاری تسنیم - Tasnim.
6. Web site: Hossein Dalirian on Twitter. Feb 5, 2018. Twitter.
7. Web site: افتتاح خط تولید انبوه پهپاد مهاجر۶ مسلح به بمب‌های هوشمند قائم . Inauguration of the mass production line of Mohajer 6 UAV armed with Qaim smart bombs . kayhan.ir.
8. Web site: خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان . May 5, 2021 . آغاز مأموریت مهم و جدید برای خانواده مشهور پهپاد‌های ایرانی/ "مهاجر ۶" مهیای سرکوب پدافند هوایی دشمن می‌شود + تصاویر . Ghaz, an important and new mission for the famous family of Iranian drones/ "Mohajer 6" is prepared to suppress the enemy's air defenses + pictures . www.yjc.news. 2022-09-25 . fa-IR.
9. Web site: Babak Taghvaee on Twitter. Twitter. Feb 5, 2018.
10. Web site: Mohajer-6 with Anti-Tank Missiles and Guided Air Bombs: What Weapons Carry the UAVs from Iran | Defense Express .
11. Web site: دانش نظامی: پهپاد شناسایی رزمی مهاجر ۶ . 2022-09-26 . iswnews.com . fa-IR.
12. Web site: دور . موسسه پرنده های هدایت پذیر از . سامانه کنترل و هدایت زمینی پهپاد مهاجر 6 . The ground control and guidance system of the migrant drone 6 . 2022-09-26 . موسسه پرنده های هدایت پذیر از دور . fa.
13. Web site: Photos: New Iranian Mohajer-6 unmanned combat aerial vehicles . Taghvaee . Babak . 8 February 2018 . defence-blog.com/ . 12 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212194500/https://defence-blog.com/aviation/photos-new-iranian-mohajer-6-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle.html . bot: unknown .
14. Web site: 2017-05-22 . آشنایی با نسل جدید پهپادهای تاکتیکی ایران/ "مهاجر ۶" با موشک نقطه‌زن آمد +عکس . Swimming with Iran's new generation of tactical drones/ "Mohajer 6" came with a point-blank missile + photo . 2022-09-26 . مشرق نیوز . fa.
15. News: 2022-10-04 . . Jackpot From Above: What Secrets are Hiding Inside the Iranian Mohajer-6 Drone . 2022-10-23 . Defense Express. Kyiv, Ukraine.
16. Web site: Iran Relocates Radar and Expands UAV Airfield on Qeshm. 13 March 2018. bellingcat.
17. News: Iran says it used new IRGC drone unit to attack Kurdish dissidents. Jerusalem Post.
18. Web site: Iran Unveils Advanced Mohajer Drone, Guided Bomb. 2023-08-23.
19. https://t.me/voenacher/29532 Telegram. 23.09.2022
20. Web site: Hendawi . Hamza . 2024-01-25 . Reports on drones used by Sudan's army could be sign of expanding Iranian influence . 2024-01-28 . The National . en.
21. Web site: 2024-01-15 . RSF shoot down Sudan's Army Mohajer drone . 2024-01-28 . Military Africa . en-US.
22. Web site: Ethiopia may have Iranian UAVs. 2021-09-10. Jane's Information Group . 18 August 2021 . en.
23. Web site: 2019-09-01 Iran - Mohajer-6 UAV Strikes Targets in Iraq (Michael Rubin). 2021-09-10. APAN Community. en.
24. Web site: Mohajer. 2021-09-10. www.globalsecurity.org.
25. Web site: IRGC Navy receives new UAVs. Jane's Information Group . 24 September 2020 .
26. Web site: Iranian Army Gets Mohajer-6 ISTAR Drone. www.defenseworld.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718104935/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/25149/Iranian_Army_Gets_Mohajer_6_ISTAR_Drone . 2019-07-18 .
27. Web site: الحشد الشعبی برای نخستین بار از یک فروند پهپاد تهاجمی رونمایی کرد+ فیلم . fa . 2023-06-14 . www.irna.ir.
28. Web site: Iraqi militias parade Iranian UAV. 2021-09-10. Jane's Information Group . 29 June 2021 . en.
29. Web site: Militias Parade Under the PMF Banner (Part 1): Drone Systems. 2021-09-10. The Washington Institute. en.
30. Military Watch Magazine. militarywatchmagazine.com .
31. News: Ukraine to slash ties with Iran over 'evil' drones supply to Russia . Reuters . 23 September 2022 . Ljunggren . David .
32. Web site: Helfrich . Emma . 2022-10-25 . Rotax Engine Found In Iranian Mohajer-6 Drone Downed Over Ukraine . 2022-10-25 . The Drive . en.
33. News: Iranian Drones Become Latest Proxy Tool in Sudan's Civil War . Bloomberg . 24 January 2024 .
34. https://twitter.com/SAMSyria0/status/1708775782166729007?t=j6U-vwn_-a13eoOCWPXiZA&s=19 Syrian Arab Army has been using Iranian Mohajer 6 drones in operations against terrorists in Idlib for several years, this photo appeared in 2019.
35. Web site: Iranian Media Report Arms Deal Between Iran and Venezuela . old.iranintl.com . 21 November 2020 . 6 November 2022.
36. Web site: Iran ramps up arms transfers to Venezuela and plans regional strife . www.thenationalnews.com . 7 December 2020 . 6 November 2022.
37. Web site: Venezuelan technology plan may lean on Iran . www.shephardmedia.com . 27 November 2020 . 6 November 2022.