In February of 2021, the nation of Iran unveiled its latest unmanned vehicle - the "Kaman-22" - as it quickly becomes one of the world's notable producers of drones despite decades-long Western sanctions. On form alone, the Kaman-22 appears based in the American General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" (detailed elsewhere on this site) as it seems to mimic the drone quite closely. The new system is of the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) class which allows it to be used beyond the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) role and take part in direct-attack actions, supporting a broad range of in-service Iranian munition and special-mission equipment options.
The Kaman-22 is billed as Iran's first "wide body" drone and is developed by the MSA Institute (MSAI) with manufacture handled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) directly. Series introduction is thought to be in 2022.
The aircraft is showcased with a running length of 21.3 feet, a height of 8.2 feet, and a wingspan of 55.8 feet. It relies on a conventional piston-driven engine powering a three-bladed propeller unit at the rear of the fuselage in pusher arrangement, propelling the aircraft out to a range of 1,865 miles up to a ceiling of 26,000 feet. Endurance is reportedly up to 24 hours giving this drone good "legs" in the air.
As a combat vehicle, the Kaman-22 has provision for precision-guided munitions launched from the aircraft as well as special-mission pods and equipment. This includes Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs), Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs), hybrid UAV / cruise missiles, precision-guided / laser-guided drop / glide bombs, conventional drop bombs, small diameter bombs, Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) pods, X-Band jammer, and laser-targeting pods.
These can be mounted across the aircraft on seven hardpoints up to 660lb in all.
An optics set is held under the nose of the aircraft in the "chin" position. Mounted on a 360-degree rotating blister unit, the OGHAB 4D/4H set has in-built InfraRed / Television and a laser range-finder.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
PUSHER-PROP
Design incorporates rear-facing pusher-prop arrangement, a contrast to the more conventional puller-prop layout.
WINGLETS
Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
AUTONOMOUS OPERATION
Design features autonomous flight operations made possible through onboard artificial intelligence or pre-programming.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
21.3 ft (6.50 m)
Width/Span
55.8 ft (17.00 m)
Height
8.2 ft (2.50 m)
Empty Wgt
4,905 lb (2,225 kg)
MTOW
10,505 lb (4,765 kg)
Wgt Diff
+5,600 lb (+2,540 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base IRIAF Kaman-22 production variant)
monoplane / mid-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base IRIAF Kaman-22 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Conventional piston engine driving three-bladed propeller unit at rear of fuselage in pusher arrangement.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base IRIAF Kaman-22 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Seven hardpoints can support a myriad of Iranian in-service munitions and special mission equipment including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, drone-launching, precision / guided drop bombs, conventional drop bombs, ECM pods, jammer pods, and laser targeting pods.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 7
Mounting Points
-
-
9
7
5
-
1
-
4
6
8
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
Kaman-22 - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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