Military Knowledge: Kaman-19 Drone

The Kaman-19 drone, named after the Farsi word for “bow,” is a specialized electronic warfare drone used for information gathering, surveillance, etc.

It was unveiled during the joint drone exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army in October 2023.

The Kaman-19 drone, which was showcased for the first time during the joint army exercise, is a simple and very affordable drone while being highly functional.

Although the drone bears resemblance to the Kaman-12 drone, its overall dimensions are smaller. A T-tail design is used in the rear section. The highly swept wings, along with the use of winglets, reduce the vortex effect at the wingtip, resulting in reduced drag and consequently, less fuel consumption. The design of the drone was chosen to increase the flight endurance of the Kaman-19.

The engine used in this aircraft is most likely the DLE 170 or a similar type. This small gasoline engine produces about 17.5 horsepower at 7,500 RPM (revolutions per minute). The Kaman-19 drone has a flight endurance of 24 hours, and considering the small size and low fuel consumption of the engine used in it, it seems acceptable.

The Kaman-19 drone does not have a camera and relies on inertial guidance and GPS for flight control. However, it can be used as a complementary drone to the Kaman-12 to carry bombs and perform reconnaissance with its own optics, as well as perform electronic warfare tasks assigned to the Kaman-19.

The electronic warfare tasks for the Kaman-19 include radar wave disruption, surveillance, radio communication disruption and so on.

Specifications of Kaman-19 electronic warfare drone:
Type: electronic warfare drone
Origin: Iran
Producer: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Unveiled: 2023
Length: 2 to 2.5 meters
Wingspan: 4.5 to 5.5 meters
Height: 1.5 to 2 meters
Engine: 1x two-cylinder DLE 170 engine with a power of 17.5 horsepower
Endurance: 24 hours