Mirsad-1

The Mirsad-1 (Arabic: مرصاد, English: "Observation post") is a Hezbollah designation for a small reconnaissance Unmanned aerial vehicle used by the Lebanese Shiia Paramilitary group in the 2000s. Drones described as "Mirsad-1" UAVs violated Israeli airspace on two occasions, in 2004 and 2005.

The Mirsad-1 is not a UAV itself; instead it is a name given by Hezbollah to existing Iranian UAVs provided to the group. The Mirsad-1 designation described twin-tail Ababil drones, perhaps also known as Ababil-T drones.

Before 2006 Hezbollah acquired up to eight Ababil drones from Iran, and the Mirsad has been reported to be a version of the Iranian Ababil. Reports state that up to 30 Hezbollah personnel also received training on operating the Mirsad at the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' bases near Isfahan, Iran.[1] Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has boasted about acquiring the drones, saying that the drone "can be laden with a quantity of explosives of up to 40 to 50 kilograms" and can reach "anywhere, deep, deep" into Israel.[2] The group has also claimed that it can arm the aircraft with explosives to attack Israeli targets.

Use

The first Mirsad-1 flight into Israeli airspace occurred mid-morning on November 7, 2004. It flew at low level from Lebanon south over the western Galilee town of Nahariya, then turned and flew back north, over the Mediterranean sea, having spent up to half an hour in Israeli airspace.[3][4]

The second flight took place on April 11, 2005, and was a short, 18 mile incursion. The drone had recrossed into Lebanese territory by the time Israeli fighters could be scrambled to intercept.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Center for Arms Control Energy and Environmental Studies report Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Source of Nasrallah quote Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Aljazeera news report, November 8, 2004 Archived 15 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ http://asher813.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/from-archives-mirsad-1-hezbollah-uav.html
  5. ↑ Defense Industry Daily Archived 2006-07-22 at the Wayback Machine.
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