The images, shared by defense analyst Babak Taghvaee, purportedly show a Tiguar M drone, manufactured by Polish technology company uAvionics, captured in southern Iran. Taghvaee said the drone, reportedly used by the U.S. military, was seized by the IRGC ground forces' 48th "Fath" Brigade.
Reports emerged in spring that the Tiguar M was being tested by U.S. special forces, specifically Green Berets, during April exercises in the Philippines, with particular focus on the drone's long-range communication capabilities, according to Taghvaee.
Images of the drone seized in Iran appear to show a Starlink or Starshield satellite terminal mounted improvised-style on the fuselage, likely to maintain contact with operators, Taghvaee said. He noted the standard Tiguar M variant had previously been shown equipped with a satellite communications (SATCOM) antenna.
Krzysztof Wojczal, a commentator specializing in international affairs, described the images as evidence of "Polish drones in the war with Iran."
The Tiguar M is a military version of a Polish-designed drone measuring about 2.32 meters in length with a 4.1-meter wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kg. Taghvaee said its declared flight endurance exceeds 20 hours and its design allows it to carry intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment.
If confirmed as a Tiguar M, the seized drone would suggest U.S. forces are relying on smaller, relatively inexpensive ISR platforms to support targeting and battle-damage assessment, Taghvaee said, noting such drones are cheaper and easier to replace than larger reconnaissance aircraft.
(jh)
Source: Polish Radio