HESA Shahed 285

Shahed 285
Shahed 285 of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Air Force (2010)
Role	light attack/reconnaissance helicopter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	HESA
Designer	Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center
First flight	2009
Introduction	Iran
Primary user	Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Developed from	Bell 206 & Panha Shabaviz 2061

HESA Shahed 285 (Persian: شاهد ۲۸۵) is a light attack/reconnaissance helicopter developed in Iran. It was unveiled on 24 May 2009. It is being produced in two versions: a light attack/recon version and a maritime patrol/anti-ship version.

Design and development

The Shahed 285 is based on the composite Shahed-278, which is a relatively light helicopter with 682 kg (1,504 lb) empty weight, derived from the Bell 206 Jetranger.^[1] Compared to the American OH-58 Kiowa that retains the airframe of the Bell 206, the Shahed 285 is a single-seater with a narrower fuselage, but retains the tail and powerplant / rotor structures, and is intended for military use. Although designed by the IRGC, this helicopter is scheduled to be produced by HESA.^[2]

Shahed 285 comes in two variants. AH-85A which is a land based variant and AH-85C which is a naval one. AH-85A is armed with 14 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets and a PKMT light machine gun either on a rotatable turret or on a static mount, or an NSV heavy machine gun in an underfuselage gondola (latest version). It also uses an EO/IR camera on its top.

Instead of the machine gun, AH-85C has a search and track radar on its chin to find and track enemy ships. Its range is estimated between 30–40 km (19–25 mi). It either uses two Kowsar or eight Sadid-1 anti-ship missiles. To fire these missiles, AH-85C relies on a Multi-function display in its cockpit.^[3]

Specifications (Shahed 285 / AH-85A)

Data from ^[3][4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 11.84 m (38 ft 10 in)
• Width: 2.78 m (9 ft 1 in) (fuselage)
• Height: 3.47 m (11 ft 5 in)
• Empty weight: 820 kg (1,808 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,450 kg (3,197 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20J turboshaft, 310 kW (420 shp)
• Main rotor diameter: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
• Range: 875 km (544 mi, 472 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,160 m (13,650 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.6 m/s (1,500 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 1x nose-mounted PKMT light machine gun (early models)
  • 1x nose-mounted NSV machine gun (later models)
• Rockets: 14x 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HESA Shahed 285.

• Atlas XH-1 Alpha
• Bell 207 Sioux Scout
• Cicaré CH-14 Aguilucho
• IAR 317 Airfox
• Patrol-LA

References

External links

• Military Factory