FIELD GUIDE By DanGettinger AND IRAQ DRONES OPERATING INSYRIA surveillance drones.Ofthese,eight light handorrail-launchedsmalltactical Turkey. The majorityofthedronesare four inRussia,twoIsrael,andone United States,nineinChina,sixIran, types ofsystems,10weremadeinthe be operatingintheconfict.Of32 in sixcountrieshavebeenreportedto different identifable dronemodelsmade media, wehavefoundthatatleast32 and Iraq.Basedonanalysisofvisual be operatinginSyria that arereportedto a guidetothesystems This publicationprovides of operations. the technologytoarange these groupsareadapting increasing frequency, and and non-stateactorswith logically advancedmilitaries,militias, drones arebeingadoptedbylesstechno militaries suchastheUnitedStates, domain oftechnologicallyadvanced previous confict.Onceprimarilythe fown bymoregroups,thaninany drones, madeinmorecountries,and In SyriaandIraqtoday, therearemore also madetheir wayontothebattlefeld, recreational drones madeinChinahave in 2016and2015respectively. Affordable frst knowndronestrikes inIraqandSyria the U.S.MQ-1Predator, conductedtheir Chinese CH-4,tworough equivalentsto combat. The IranianShahed-129and use ofmanythesesystemsinactual The confictrepresentsthefrstknown types havealsobeenspotted. other unidentifedandhomemadedrone identifed fromthereports. A handfulof recreational hobbydroneshavebeen - provided byElena Botts. O’Leary, andClaraLevy. Research support support provided byMadiGarvin,Erin Edited by Arthur HollandMichel.Editorial SUMMARY Image via: 32 38 improvised explosivedevices. with explosivesandturnedintofying that hobbydroneshavebeenmodifed groups. The confictmarksthefrsttime platforms amonginsurgent andterrorist proliferation ofaerialsurveillance marking amilestoneinthewidespread Iraq andSyria. photo fromourcollectionofreports platform profleisalsoaccompaniedbya specifcations, andreportedusers.Each 6 @markito0171 Aircraft Systems Unidentifed Unmanned Aircraft Systems Identifed Unmanned Total Systems 1 drone totheDJIPhantom, surveillance andstrike Turkey’s Bayraktartactical drones rangingfrom This collectionincludes key systemfeaturesand provide ashortbackground, featured inthisguide,we For eachofthesystems a popularhobbydrone. December 2016 REPORTED DRONES

Drone Country of Origin Manufacturer Aerosonde MK4.7 United States Textron Systems Desert Hawk United States Lockheed Martin Eleron 3SV Russia ENICS F550 China DJI Inspire China DJI Matrice 100 China DJI My Twin Dream China MyFlyDream Oghab Iran Farnas Pasargad Orlan 10 Russia Special Technological Center Pchela-1T Russia Yakovlev Design Bureau Phantom China DJI Ptero-G0 Russia AFM Servers Light Aircraft Light Puma United States AeroVironment Raven United States AeroVironment ScanEagle United States Insitu Skyhunter China Tensho Model Co. Skylark Israel Elbit Systems Guilin Feiyu Electronic Skywalker China Technolog Switchblade United States AeroVironment Talon China HOOAH Aviation Yasir Iran IAIO

Ababil-3 Iran HESA Searcher/Forpost Israel/Russia Israel Aerospace Industries Mohajer-4 Iran Qods Aviation Shadow United States Textron Systems Medium Shahed-123 Iran HESA

Bayraktar Turkey Kale-Bayrakar CH-4 China CASC Gray Eagle United States General Atomics Predator United States General Atomics Heavy Reaper United States General Atomics Shahed-129 Iran HESA

2 RESEARCH AND ORGANIZATION

The research for this publication is based on an analysis of visual media posted on social networks such as Twitter and YouTube. The images of drones in Iraq and Syria are sourced from photos and videos that are reported to be taken from the confict zone. This guide leverages the work of numerous journalists and online weapons analysts who monitor Syria and Iraq, including @green_lemonnn, @AbraxasSpa, @Terror_Monitor, @oryxspioenkop, Hassan Ridha, Harry Boone, Haidar Sumeri, Jeremy Binnie, Adam Rawnsley, and Galen Wright. The authenticity of these images has not been independently verifed. As such, this guide should be not construed as a complete list of systems currently operating in theater. Furthermore, while some of these systems appear on a regular basis, others have only been spotted once or twice. A chronological list of reports and images of drones from Iraq and Syria that formed the basis for this guide can be found on our website, dronecenter.bard.edu.

The systems are organized according to the country of origin of the manufacturer. We only note known groups using each system in Syria and Iraq, not all system users in the world. Unless otherwise noted, the specifcations for each system are taken from the manufacturer.

3 CHINA

Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: László Kübler/YouTube Phantom Inspire F550 Flame Wheel

The Phantom series drones are mul- tirotor consumer unmanned aircraft The Inspire series drones are multiro- The F550 Flame Wheel is a build-it- made by Dà-Jiāng Innovations Science tor consumer unmanned aircraft made yourself multirotor drone kit manufac- and Technology, better known as DJI. by DJI. The Inspire is believed to be tured by DJI. The F550 is believed to In Syria and Iraq, the Phantom is fown fown by Syrian government forces. be fown by Syrian government forces. Description by a variety of state and non-state groups.

In November 2013, Syrian rebels claimed to have shot down a Phantom An October 17, 2015 photo reported- that belonged to Syrian government In October 2013, a F550 reportedly ly released by Syrian army soldiers forces.1 An August 2014 video released belonging to the Syrian Arab Army shows one DJI Inspire among several by the Islamic State revealed for the crashed behind rebel lines.11 DJI Phantoms.7 Sightings frst time that the group fies the DJI Phantom.2

The frst generation Phantom was 3 unveiled on January 7, 2013. As an The Inspire 1 was released in No- affordable and ready-to-fy machine, vember 2014.8 It was marketed as a The Flame Wheel F550 is the largest the Phantom helped popularize drones. mid-way point between the hobby in the F-series of drone airframes built In 2015, DJI held 70 percent of the Phantom drones and the drones aimed 12 4 by DJI. consumer drone market. The Phantom at professional flmmakers.9 Background 4 was released on March 3, 2016.5

The Flame Wheel is a hexacopter The Phantoms have white airframes, The Inspire has T-shaped arms that drone; it has six arms and skid landing four rotors, skid landing gear, and retract upon takeoff to give the camera gear. It is designed to be more durable green and red lights. an unobstructed view. and crash-resistant than smaller hobby Features drones. Images

Syria, August 18, Syria, September 17, Syria, October 17, Syria, October 1, 2013. Image 2015 Image via: @ 2016 Image via: @ 2015. Image via: @ via: Hamilton’s Military JulianRoepcke RaoKomar747 IvanSidorenko1 Channel/YouTube

Width 38 cm Width 45.1 cm Length 22 cm Length 43.8 cm Speed 72 km/h Diagonal 0.55 m Weight 2.94 kg Weight 1.36 MTOW 2.4 kg Endurance 0.4 hrs Endrance 0.3 hrs Price $369

Specifcations Price $1,400 Price $1,199 Source 13 Source 10 Source6 4 CHINA

Image credit: Братья Райт/YouTube Image credit: Ricom69/YouTube Image credit: Gabor Zoltan/YouTube Matrice 100 Skyhunter FPV Skywalker X8

The Skyhunter is a fxed-wing hobby The Skywalker X8 is a fxed-wing The Matrice 100 is a multirotor drone drone made by Tensho (Xiamen) hobby drone made by Guilin Feiyu manufactured by DJI. The Matrice is Model Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of Electronic Technology. The Skywalker fown by Iraqi Federal Police. hobby drones based in Fujian province. is fown by ISIL.

Description The Skyhunter is fown by ISIL.

An early sighting of the Skywalker In October 2014, the Syrian Army took place in August 2015 when reportedly shot down a Skyhunter in A November 2016 photo by Achilleas the Kurdish Peshmerga recovered a Deir Ezzor that it claimed belonged Zavallis showed Iraqi police operating Skywalker near Iraq’s Mosul Dam.21 to an ISIL.17 Since then, multiple a DJI Matrice 100 south of Mosul.14 In November 2016, a Skywalker was

Sightings Skyhunter drones reportedly belonging captured by Kurdish forces in western to IS have been downed or captured.18 Manbij, Syria.22

The Skyhunter can be purchased The Matrice 100 is intended to be used from most major online hobby drone Like the Skyhunter, the Skywalker X8 by academic and professional drone retailers and is a popular model for is a popular platform for frst-person users. It was unveiled in June 2015.15 “frst-person view” (FPV) recreational view fying. 19

Background fying. The Skywalker design is known The Matrice 100 has double the The Skyhunter has a twin-boom as a fying wing or swept wing, a fight time of the Phantom and empennage confguration, twin blended wing-body aircraft. It has a comes equipped with the automated vertical stabilizers, and a rounded cone-shaped fuselage, and blended “Guidance” obstacle avoidance fuselage nose. It has high-mounted winglets. It is hand-launched, although Features system. straight-wing mainplanes. some confgurations have included a bungee or rail-launch system.23

Iraq, October 17, 2016. Image via: @ BeyondTheLevant

Image available here. Images Iraq, December 13, 2015. Image via: Alqurtas News Iraq, Aug. 27, 2015. Syria, July 23, 2016. Image via: @green_ Image via: @Conficts lemonnn

Diagonal 0.65 m Wingspan 1.8 m MTOW 3.6 kg Wingspan 2.12 m Length 0.65 m Max Speed 79 km/h Payload 2 kg MTOW 3.5 kg Endurance 0.6 hrs Price $179*

Specifcations Price $111* Price $3,299 Source 20 Source 24 Source 16 5 CHINA

Image credit: RC Life/YouTube Image credit: alishanmao/YouTube Image credit: Xinhua X-UAV Talon My Twin Dream CH-4 Rainbow

The CASC CH-4 “Rainbow” is a The X-UAV Talon is a fxed-wing My Twin Dream is a fxed-wing medium-altitude, long-endurance hobby drone made by HOOAH Avia- hobby drone made by MyFlyDream. surveillance and strike drone made tion Technology Co., Ltd. in Jiangsu, My Twin Dream is fown by Kurdish by China Academy of Aerospace China.25 The Talon is fown by ISIL. Peshmerga. Aerodynamics. The CH-4 is fown by Description the Iraqi Air Force.

In October 2015, Iraqi Federal Police Shortly after Iraq acquired the CH-4 in October 2015, it began using the reported that they had shot down an An October 2016 photo showed a My 26 system to carry out drone strikes ISIL Talon drone east of Ramadi. In Twin Dream aircraft being prepared by against the Islamic State.33 34 In January June 2016, the Levant Front, a rebel Kurdish Peshmerga during the Mosul 30 2016, an Iraqi CH-4 mistakenly killed

Sightings group in Syria, reported shooting down Offensive. a Talon in Aleppo, Syria.27 nine members of an Iraqi Shi’ite milita that was fghting ISIL.35

My Twin Dream is another popular The CH-4 was publicly unveiled at the Like the Skyhunter and the Skywalker, remote-control hobby aircraft that Zhuhai Air Show in November 2012.36 the styrofoam Talon is a popular model is widely available. With its large In 2016, a CH-4 performed a live fre for frst-person view fying, widely airframe and twin motors, My Twin 28 Dream is designed for long-distance test via a satellite link, a frst for a available from online retailers. 37 Background fying.31 Chinese drone.

Like the U.S. Reaper remotely piloted The Talon has a v-tail (also known as My Twin Dream has a twin motor con- aircraft, the CH-4 has a v-tail, a pusher a butterfy tail), sort of like a miniature fguration. It has a standard tailplane confguration, and mid wing design. version of the CH-4 or Reaper drones. and shoulder-mounted wings. The It has four external hardpoints and

Features It has a monoplane shoulder wing payload bay is located in the nose of can be equipped with the AR-1/HJ-10 design and pusher confguration. the fuselage. anti-tank missiles.

Iraq, October 3, 2015. Image via: Iraqi News

Images Syria, June 30, 2016. Iraq, June 6, 2016. Image via: Iraqi Air Force/ Image via: @ Facbeook alnkba1121 Iraq, Oct. 17, 2016. Image via: @ DrPartizan_

Wingspan 18 m Width 1.7 m Width 1.8 m Length 9 m Length 1.1 m Length 1.22 m MTOW 1,330 kg Weight 2.4 kg Empty Weight 1.1 kg Endurance 38 hrs Endurance .6 hrs MTOW 5.3 kg Range 3,500 km Specifcations Price $116* Price $159* Ceiling 26,264 ft Source29 Source32 Source38 6 IRAN

Image credit: Farnas Pasargad Image credit: Amir Pourmand/ISNA Image credit: MEHR Oghab 1 Yasir Mohajer-4

The Yasir is a small tactical surveil- lance and reconnaissance unmanned The Mohajer-4 is a tactical reconnais- The Oghab 1 is a portable small aircraft system made by Iran Aviation sance drone made by Qods Aviation tactical reconnaissance drone made by Industries Organization. The Yasir Industries. The Mohajer is fown by Farnas Pasargad. The Oghab is fown is fown by Kata’ib Jund al-Imam, Syrian government forces and/or Iran. by the Badr Organization and/or Iran. The Mohajer may also by fown by

Description Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and/or Syria and Iran.43 44 Iranian units in Iraq.

A drone resembling the Yasir was In May 2015, the Badr Organization, a Mohajer-4s have been seen in Syria on Shi’a militia in Iraq, published images flmed fying over Syria on Novem- ber 9, 2013.45 On December 7, 2013, a regular basis since as early as Febru- showing what appears to be an Oghab ary 2012, when a drone matching its 39 another video appeared showing a 1 drone. In December 2015, Syrian description was spotted fying over the

Sightings Yasir that was reportedly shot down by rebels reportedly shot down an Oghab 50 46 Damascus suburb of Kafr Batna. over Aleppo.40 rebels in Qalamoun, Syria. Farnas Pasagard is an Iranian aero- The Yasir is believed to be a copy of space company that specializes in the U.S. ScanEagle; it was unveiled unmanned aircraft. A drone matching The Mohajer series is the longest run- by the Iranian Army Ground Forces in the description of the Oghab was ning family of Iranian drones, dating September 2013, around ten months 51 spotted in Iran during the Iranian Army back to the mid-1980s. It was frst after Iran announced that it had cap- 52 Ground Forces Muharram exercise in used in the Iran-Iraq War. Background tured a ScanEagle drone.47 48 October 2015.41

Like the ScanEagle, the Yasir has a The Mohajer-4 has a rocket-assisted The Oghab has a high-mounted payload bubble that sits below the launch system and skid landing gears. straight-wing design, a T-tail, and nose and swept back wings. Unlike its The M4 has a twin-boom empennage, pusher confguration. It has a payload American counterpart, the Yasir has a a push propeller, mid wings, and an an- bay in the nose and fxed tricycle Features twin-boom empennage and inverted gular box-shaped fuselage. Some may landing gear. v-tail confguration. have winglets.

Syria, Feb. Iraq, May 20, Iraq, Dec. 22, 25, 2012 Im- 2015. Image 2014. Image age via: The via: @green_ via: FRBIU Aviationist lemonnn

Images Syria, Nov. Syria, Nov. 9, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2015. 2013. Image 11, 2014. Image via: via: Ugarit Image via: @green_ News -Syria/ @green_ lemonnn YouTube lemonnn

Wingspan 2 m Wingspan 5.3 m Length 1.65 m Endurance 8 hrs MTOW 175 kg MTOW 4.2 kg Range 200 km Endurance 3-5 hrs Endurance 0.75 hr Ceiling 15,000 ft Range 150 km Specifcations Range 25 km Source49 Ceiling 4,500 ft

Source42 Source53 7 IRAN

Image credit: IRNA Image via: Uskowi on Iran Image via: Fars News Ababil-3 Shahed-123 Shahed-129

The Ababil-3 is a tactical reconnais- The Shahed-129 is a medium-altitude sance and surveillance unmanned The Shahed-123 is a tactical unmanned long-endurance surveillance and strike aircraft made by the Iran Aircraft aircraft system made by the Iran Air- drone made by the Iran Aircraft Man- Manufacturing Industrial Company. craft Manufacturing Industrial Compa- ufacturing Industrial Company. The The Ababil-3 is likely fown by Syrian ny. The Shahed-123 is likely fown by Ababil is likely fown by Iranian forces Description government forces and/or Iran, as well Syrian government forces and/or Iran. in Syria. as by Iranian forces in Iraq.54

Most sightings of the Ababil-3 have The frst Shahed-129 spotted in Syria taken place over Syria, although A Shahed-123 was reportedly shot was flmed fying over the East Ghouta several have also crashed in Iraq. In down in Iraq’s Nineveh Governorate neighborhood in Damascus in April 63 March 2012, a video was released that in February 2016.60 A drone that could 2014. In February 2016, Iran released appeared to show an Ababil-3 taking potentially be an S123 was shot down a video showing a Shahed-129 striking 55 64 Sightings off from Hamah Airbase in Syria. In by Turkish jets in May 2015 near the targets in northern Syria. It was the December 2015, an Ababil-3 crashed Turkish-Syria border.61 frst known wartime drone strike by near Tikrit, Iraq.56 Iran.65 The Ababil-3 is thought to have become operational as early as 2008, The Shahed-129 is the most advanced when an Ababil-3 was spotted fying of the Shahed line of unmanned 57 The Shahed-123 is an older, smaller over Sudan. In 2009, the U.S. military aircraft and is believed to be the most variant of the Shahed-129. reported to have shot down an Irani- capable drone in Iran’s arsenal. It was

Background an Ababil-3 drone north of Baghdad, unveiled in September 2012.66 Iraq.58

The Ababil-3 bears a strong resem- Like the Shahed-129 it has a v-tail The S129 has a v-tail and a long, blance to the Mohajer-4, with char- and push propeller confguration. The narrow fuselage. The Shahed-129 is acteristics like a slender fuselage and S123 is smaller than the S129 and has armed with an anti-tank missile, likely twin-boom empennage. Two factors a more angular fuselage. As Adam the Iranian-made Sadid-1 anti-tank Rawnsley notes at Bellingcat, the S123

Features that distinguish the Ababil-3 from the missile. Most images of the S129 show Mohajer are its fxed-tricycle landing has appeared equipped both with skid it carrying up to four of these missiles gear and high wing confguration. and wheeled landing gear.62 on two hardpoints.

Syria, Sept. Iraq, Oct. Iraq, Feb. 2, 2016. 13, 2015. 15, 2016. Image via: Image via: Image via: @green_ @green_ @CTstudies lemonnn lemonnn Images Syria, Mar. Syria, Apr. 24, 2012. Im- Syria/Turkey, May 10, 2014. age via: The 16, 2015. Image via: Image via: Aviationist @HussamAlMarie Oryx Blog

Wingspan 5 m Wingspan 10.5 m Length 3.5 Length 6 m

Speed 200 km/h Specifcations not available. MTOW 990 kg Endurance 4 hrs Endurance 24 hrs

Specifcations Range 100 km Range 1,700 km Ceiling 16,000 ft Ceiling 24,000 ft Source59 Source67 8 ISRAEL

Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Skylark Searcher/Forpost

The Skylark is a small fxed-wing The Forpost is a fxed-wing tactical reconnaissance drone made by Elbit drone made by Israel Aerospace In- Systems. It is not clear who is fying dustries and assembled in Russia. The the Skylark in Syria and Iraq. Forpost is fown by Russia. Description In February 2016, Syrian photographer In December 2015, an ISIL media Ahmad Al Khayer spotted a Forpost outlet released a video that appears fying over Syria.73 In July 2016, Rus- to show a downed Skylark that was sian photographer Alexei Kitaev took a downed west of Mosul, Iraq.68 Reports photo of a Forpost that was reportedly from February 2016 also suggested located at Hmeyim airbase in Latakia, Sightings that a Skylark was found crashed in Syria.74 In September 2016, satellite Ninevah province, Iraq.69 images appeared to show a Forpost drone at Aleppo airport.75

The Skylark is designed to be carried by infantry and quickly assembled and The Israeli Searcher is one of the launched for close-in surveillance and oldest drones still in service; it frst be- reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and came operational in 1992 and is oper- perimeter security.70 Since it entered ated by at least 10 different countries. 76 service with the Israel Defense Forces The Ural Factory of Civil Aviation in 2004, several countries including in Yekaterinburg began producing 77 Background Canada have purchased the Skylark.71 Forposts under license in 2012.

The Skylark features a nose-mounted The Forpost has a stand-up commu- tractor propeller and a payload pod nications antenna and radome that that is attached below the propeller. It extends above the fuselage, as well as has a high-mounted wing placement its twin-boom tail and sloped nose. Features and polyhedral wing design.

Iraq, Feb. 26, 2016. Image via: @CTstudies

Syria, Aug. Image available here. Images 22, 2016. Image via: @ AbraxasSpa

Wingspan 8.55 m MTOW 7.5 kg MTOW 450 kg Payload 1.2 kg Speed 203 km/h Endurance 3 hrs Endurance 18 hrs Range 40 km Range 250 km Specifcations Ceiling 15,000 ft Ceiling 23,000 ft Source72 Source78 9 RUSSIA

Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Orlan 10 Eleron 3SV Pchela-1T

The Orlan-10 is a small fxed-wing re- The Eleron 3SV is a small fxed-wing The Pchela-1T is a small reconnais- connaissance unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance drone made by ENICS, sance and surveillance drone made the made by Special Technological Center a Russian manufacturer based in Ta- Yakovlev Design Bureau. It is fown

Description in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is fown by tarstan. It is Syrian government forces by Russian forces in Syria. Russian forces in Syria. and/or Russia.

In October 2015, Turkey claimed to have shot down a Russian drone that In July 2015, Jabhat al-Nusra reported- An image from September 2015 had reportedly strayed over its border ly shot down an Eleron 3SV near Lata- appeared to show a Pchela fying near with Syria.79 The drone appeared to be kia, Syria.84 An Eleron 3SV apparently Russian manned fghters.89 Since then, an Orlan-10. In September 2016, Jaish belonging to the Syrian army appeared there does not appear to have been any Sightings al-Izzah rebels claimed to have shot in an image from November 2016.85 sighting of the Pchela. down an Orlan-10 near Hama, Syria.80

In mid-2013, Russian state media Production of the Orlan-10 began reported that ENICS had delivered a The Pchela is intended for short-range in 2010.81 In February 2016, Russia shipment of the Elerons to the Russian tactical reconnaissance. It is one of unveiled the newest variants of the military.86 In 2015, the Associated Russia’s oldest drones. It was designed Orlan—the Orlan-30 and -50—which Press reported that Russia would in the mid-1980s and used in the First have similar physical dimensions, but Background deploy the drones to monitor the Kuril Chechen War.90 improved performance specifcations.82 Islands near Japan.87

The Orlan-10 is catapult-launched The Pchela has high-mounted wings and recovered by parachute. It fea- The Eleron has a blended wing design and a ducted fan pusher confguration. tures swappable payload modules. It similar to China’s Skywalker X8. It is It also uses a booster rocket-assisted has a high wing monoplane design, a rail-launched and has a pusher confg- rail launch and parachute recovery Features conventional tailplane, and a tractor uration. confguration. system.

Syria, July Syria, Sept. 16, 20, 2015. 2016. Image via: Image via: @oryxspio- YouTube enkop

Syria, Sept. 16, 2016.

Images Image Turkey, Oct. Syria, Sept. 3, 2015. 16, 2015. courtesy of Ivan Image via: @Charles_Lister Sidorenko

MTOW 14 kg Wingspan 1.47 m MTOW 138 kg Payload 5 kg Weight 5.5 kg Speed 180 km/h Speed 150 km/h Speed 130 km/h Range 60 km Endurance 16 hrs Endurance 1.8 hrs

Specifcations Max Op Altitude 8,200 ft Ceiling 16,000 ft Ceiling 16,400 ft Source91 Source83 Source88

10 RUSSIA TURKEY

Image credit: Alexey Ptero/YouTube Image credit: Wikimedia Ptero-G0 UAV Bayraktar

The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-alti- The Ptero is a small reconnaissance tude long-endurance unmanned aircraft drone made by AFM Servers. It is system made by Kale-Baykar. It is fown by Russian forces in Syria. fown by Turkish Air Force. Description

In August 2016, a Turkish military Bayraktar reportedly took part in the The only known sighting is from Turkish-backed operation to retake the October 2016, when photos emerged Syrian town of Jarablus.95 On Au- showing a Ptero-60 that reportedly gust 25, 2016, a Bayraktar reportedly 92 Sightings crashed in Syria’s Latakia province. crashed outside of Sanliurfa Airport in southern Turkey.96

The Ptero-G0 is designed for short- The Bayraktar made its frst fight in range reconnaissance and mapping 2009 and was delivered to the Turkish missions. In April 2015, Russian media military in 2014.97 98 The Bayraktar can reported that AFM Servers was plan- be armed with the UMTAS anti-tank ning to export the drone to countries in

Background missile. Asia.93

The Bayraktar has a twin-boom The Ptero has shoulder-mounted wings empennage with an inverted v-tail. It and a tractor propeller confguration. It has a pusher propeller confguration, is launched using a pneumatic catapult mid-mounted straight-wing main- Features and can be recovered by parachute. planes, and wheeled landing gear. Images Syria, Oct. 29 2016. Turkey, Aug. 25 2016. Image via: @AbraxasSpa Image via: @M3t4_tr0n

Wingspan 12 m Weight 5 kg Length 6.5 m Payload 2 kg MTOW 650 kg Range 800 km Payload 55 kg

Specifcations Endurance 8 hrs Max Speed 130 km/h

Source94 Endurance 24 hrs Source99 11 UNITED STATES

Image credit: AeroVironment Image credit: Sgt. Hillary Rustine/U.S. Army Image credit: Wikimedia Switchblade Puma Raven

The RQ-20 Puma AE is a fxed-wing The RQ-11 Raven is a hand-launched The Switchblade is a loitering mu- small tactical reconnaissance drone small tactical surveillance and recon- nition made by AeroVironment. It made by AeroVironment. It is fown by naissance drone made by AeroViron- is operated by United States special United States special operations forces ment. It is fown by the United States operations forces. Description and Kurdish Peshmerga. and Iraq.111

One of the frst reports of Switchblades In February 2016, the Islamic State in Syria was in October 2015, when group claimed that it had downed a a crashed drone matching the charac- Puma drone near Al-Baghdadi, Iraq.105 An October 2016 video by the BBC teristics of a Switchblade was found An August 2016 video released by showed Kurdish forces shooting down near Daraa.100 Another Switchblade ISIL claimed that a crashed Puma a Raven drone during the Mosul offen-

Sightings 112 was found near Syria’s Izraa city in drone had been operated by the Kurd- sive. November 2015.101 ish Peshmerga.106

The Switchblade is meant to pro- The Puma began its service in 2008 The Raven was designed as the suc- vide infantry with a precise stand-off when the U.S. Special Operations cessor to the AeroVironment FQM-151 munition that is light enough to be Command selected the system for Pointer UAV.113 The Raven system carried in a backpack. On November the All Environment Capable Variant conducted its maiden fight in October 10, 2016, the Obama administration program.107 The U.S. Army ordered the 2001.114 The Raven remains one of requested $46.5 million in funding for Puma in 2012.108 The Puma is designed the most popular military unmanned Background 535 Switchblades as part of a larger to be used for both land and maritime aircraft ever produced and has been funding package for counter-ISIL missions.109 exported widely. operations.102 The Puma system has a polyhedral The Switchblade is designed to ft wing design in which the end two- The Raven has a tubular tail boom and inside a tube for transport. The four thirds of each wing extend upward at pusher confguration. Like the Puma, wings unfold when launched. The war- a slightly higher angle than the frst the Raven has a high-wing placement head is equivalent to a 40mm grenade.

Features third. It has a tractor propeller confgu- and polyhedral wing design. It has twin vertical stabilizers.103 ration and conventional tailplane.

Iraq, April 6, 2016. Image via: @trbtc

Image available here.

Images Iraq, Aug. 10, 2016. Image Syria, Nov. 3, 2015. Syria, Oct. 12, 2015. via: Image via: @green_ Image via: @Terror_ @JakeGodin lemonnn Monitor

Wingspan 1.4 m Wingspan 2.8 m Speed 157 km/h Length 0.9 m Length 1.4 m Endurance 10 min Speed 81 km/h MTOW 6.3 kg Range 10 km Endurance 1.5 hrs Speed 83 km/h Op Altitude 500 ft Range 10 km Specifcations Endurance 3 hrs Source104 Op Altitude 500 ft Source115 Source110 12 UNITED STATES

Image credit: U.K. Ministry of Defence Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Desert Hawk III ScanEagle Aerosonde MK 4.7

The Desert Hawk III is a fxed-wing The ScanEagle is a small tactical The Aerosonde MK 4.7 is a small tactical reconnaissance drone reconnaissance drone made by Boeing small surveillance drone made by made by Lockheed Martin. It is fown Insitu. It is fown by the United States Aerosonde, a division of Textron by the United Kingdom. and Iraq. Systems. It is fown by U.S. special Description operations forces.

In March 2015, IHS Jane’s reported In December 2014, a drone matching that SOCOM was fying Aerosonde the description of a Desert Hawk was A video released by the Islamic State drones out of a base in Lebanon for reportedly shot down in Iraq’s Diyala group in November 2016 appeared operations over Syria.125 In February Governorate.116 A second apparent to show a ScanEagle that came down 121 2016, a drone matching the description

Sightings sighting of the Desert Hawk took place near Mosul, Iraq. of an Aerosonde was downed in near in June 2015 in Iraq.117 Damascus, Syria.126

The Desert Hawk made its frst fight The ScanEagle was deployed for the in 2003 and was initially deployed frst time in 2004, when it was sent 118 122 In March 2012, the U.S. Special with the USAF to Afghanistan. with U.S. Marine Corps to Iraq. Operations Command chose the Lockheed Martin delivered the Desert In August 2016, the Department of Aerosonde for the Mid-Endurance Hawk to the British Army in 2007 Defense announced an $8.3 million UAS II program.127 for use in Iraq to replace the Phoenix contract for ScanEagles for Iraq, a sale Background system.119 that was three years in the making.123

The Desert Hawk has tractor propeller The ScanEagle has swept-back wings, confguration, teardrop-shaped winglets, a pusher confguration, Like the RQ-7 Shadow, the Aerosonde fuselage, high-wing design, and and a cylindrical fuselage. It carries has a twin-boom empennage and an single vertical tailfn. An optics a transparent sensor bubble beneath inverted V-shaped tail. The fuselage payload can be found at the aircraft’s the nose that can be ftted with of the Aerosonde is more rounded and

Features center of mass. The Desert Hawk is swapable payloads. The ScanEalge is less angular than the RQ-7 Shadow. It hand-launched and is recovered by a rail-launched and recovered with the employs a net recovery system. skid landing. SkyHook system.

Iraq, Dec. 27, 2014. Image via: @green_lemonnn Images Iraq, June 15, 2015. Image via: @green_lemonnn Syria, Feb. 1, 2016. Iraq, Nov. 4, 2016. Image via: @CTstudies

Wingspan 1.5 m Wingspan 3.11 m Wingspan 3.6 m Weight 3.72 kg Length 1.71 m MTOW 36.4 kg Endurance 1.5 hrs MTOW 22 kg Payload 9.1 kg Max Speed 92 km/h Endurance 24 hrs Endurance 14 hrs Max Speed 148 km/h Range 140 km Specifcations Range 15 km Ceiling 17,000 ft Ceiling 19,500 ft Ceiling 15,000 ft Source120 Source124 Source128 13 UNITED STATES

Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Image credit: Wikimedia Shadow Predator Gray Eagle The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-alti- The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is a me- The AAI RQ-7 Shadow is a tactical tude long-endurance surveillance and dium-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance and surveillance drone strike drone made by General Atomics surveillance and strike drone made made by AAI Corporation, a unit of Aeronautical Systems. It is fown by by General Atomics Aeronautical Textron Systems. It is fown by the the United States Air Force and the Systems. It is fown by the United Description United States Army. Italian Air Force. States Army.

In January 2016, ISIL claimed to have In March 2015, an MQ-1 Predator In July 2015, a Gray Eagle drone shot down a U.S. drone in Fallujah, crashed in northern Syria.134 In crashed near the southern Iraqi city Iraq that appears to be a Shadow.129 December 2015, the Italian magazine of Samawah.139 In April 2016, a Gray A December 2016 report by Flanders L’Espresso published video imagery Eagle was spotted fying over Anbar,

Sightings News visited a U.S. Shadow troop at from an Italian Predator drone that was Iraq.140 Qayarah Airbase near Mosul.130 monitor ISIL fghters.135 The Predator was frst deployed to support U.S. operations in Bosnia The Gray Eagle is derived from The RQ-7A was frst felded by the in 1996. It successfully launched a the MQ-1 Predator drone. The U.S. U.S. Army in 2001 and by the Marines Hellfre missile for the frst time in military’s Gray Eagle acquisition 136 in 2007.131 In 2012, Textron began winter 2001. Although the Air Force program began on April 20, 2005 fight testing the latest Shadow variant, plans to phase out its MQ-1B feet after the drone—then known as Sky 132 by 2018, the Predator’s cousins— Warrior—won an Army competition to Background the M2. the Gray Eagle and the Predator B replace the aging Hunter drone.141 (Reaper)—will remain in use.137

The Shadow has a twin-boom empennage, an inverted v-tail, and The Predator has an inverted v-tail, The Gray Eagle has the same inverted a pusher confguration. It has a mid wings, and a pusher confguration. v-tail as the Predator, although it is high-wing monoplane design. The It has two hardpoints and can carry heavier and has a longer wingspan Features aircraft is rail-launched and equipped two AGM-114 Hellfre missiles. than its predecessor. with tricycle landing gear for runway landings. Images

Iraq, Jan. 30, 2016. Iraq, Jun. 16, 2016. Iraq, Oct. 16, 2015. Iraq, July 24, 2014. Image via: @Mr_ Image via: @green_ Image via: @green_ Image via: @Julian- July 25, 2015. Image via: @TRACterrorism Ghostly lemonnn lemonnn Roepcke

Wingspan 6.2 m Wingspan 16.8 m Wingspan 17 m Payload 43 kg Length 8.22 m Length 9 m Weight 212 kg MTOW 1,020 kg MTOW 1633 kg Range 125 km Speed 217 km/h Speed 311 km/h

Specifcations Endurance 9 hrs Range 1,239 km Endurance 25 hrs Ceiling 18,000 ft Ceiling 25,000 ft Ceiling 29,000 ft

Source133 Source138 Source142 14 UNITED STATES

Image credit: Wikimedia Reaper

The Reaper (also known as Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance surveillance and strike drone made by General Atomics Aeronautical

Description Systems. It is fown by the United States and the United Kingdom.

In October 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a video showing a Russian fghter intercepting a Reaper over Syria.143 In July 2016, a

Sightings Reaper crashed in northern Syria after operators lost control of the aircraft.144

The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Com- mand initiated the MQ-9 Reaper pro- gram on May 2, 2002. The frst Reaper unit, the 42nd Attack Squadron, was activated on November 6, 2006 and Background became operational in 2007.145

The Reaper has a v-tail and a larger airframe than the Predator and Gray Eagle. The Reaper has four hardpoints and can carry up to 1,361 kg of Features external payload. Images Syria, October 2015. Iraq, Feb. 9, 2015. Image via: Russian Image via: @IraqiSe- Ministry of Defense/ curity YouTube

Wingspan 20 m Length 11 m MTOW 4763 kg Speed 445 kph

Specifcations Endurance 27 hrs Ceiling 50,000 ft

Source146 15 UNIDENTIFIED DRONES Besides the 32 identifable drones that have been spotted in Iraq and Syria, there have been other reported sightings of drones that have not yet been identifed. These drones are either homemade or highly modifed. One drone in particular has appeared in multiple images. This drone, which social media reports suggest is an Iranian-made aircraft operating in Syria, looks like a miniaturized version of the Iranian Shahed drones. It is used for over-the-hill reconnaissance missions.147 Other drones, particularly those that have been found in ISIL workshops, appear to be homemade. A 2016 investigation by Confict Armament Research into one ISIL workshop in Ramadi, Iraq found that some of these home-made ISIL drones could potentially be armed.148

Syria, Aug. 31, 2016. Image via: @Terror_Monitor Iraq, Nov. 4, 2015. Image via: @green_lemonnn Syria, June 25, 2016. Image via: @JeremyBinnie This drone, with its v-tail and This is a home-made fxed-wing This drone appeared in an ISIL high-mounted straight-wing small reconnaissance drone. It has propaganda video in June 2016. It design, resembles a variant of the repeatedly appeared in images of reportedly shows a drone captured Iranian-made Shahed drones, albeit ISIL drones in Iraq. The aircraft in Manbij, Syria. It is the only on a signifcantly smaller scale. It pictured above was captured by known single-rotor drone operating appears to be roughly the size of Kurdish forces near Mosul in No- in Syria or Iraq. a U.S. ScanEagle. Several social vember 2015. In November 2016, media reports suggest that this Iraqi forces in Mosul discovered drone is Iranian-made and fown by several of these drones in an ISIL Syrian government forces. workshop; one of which appeared to contain a space large enough to carry a small quadrotor.149 In December 2016, the Syrian army discovered a variant of this type of drone along with several RPG-7 rounds, suggesting that this type of Iraq, Jan. 11, 2016. Image via: Heavy.com drone could be armed.150 This fxed-wing reconnaissance drone is the largest unidentifed unmanned aircraft believed to be Iraq, March 24, 2015. Image via: @SerioSito operating in Syria and Iraq. The drone pictured reportedly belonged This drone, which was shot down Syria, Dec. 10, 2016. Image via: @MinsterTX to ISIL before being shot down by ISIL fghters in Sinjar, Iraq, by Iraqi security forces in January reportedly belonged to the Kurdish 2016. Peshmerga. It is a highly-modifed hexacopter multirotor drone similar to the DJI F550 Flame Wheel. It was likely originally designed for advanced hobbyists or commercial drone operators.

Syria, Dec. 10, 2016. Image via: @MinsterTX This homemade quadrotor drone was reportedly discovered by Syrian govern- ment forces in Deir ez-Zor in December 2016. It was apparently capable of carry- ing a small PG-7 HEAT warhead.

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The Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College is an interdisciplinary research institution founded in 2012 that examines the novel and complex opportunities and challenges presented by unmanned system technologies in both the military and civilian sphere.

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