Aircraft & UAVs

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV

Also known as
  • Striker-1
  • Striker 1
  • Qasef 1
  • Qasef-1 UAV

The Qasef-1 is an Iranian-linked, Houthi-operated loitering munition/UAV in the Ababil-T or Ababil-II design family. Conflict Armament Research documented recovered and intercepted examples in Yemen, tied the type to attacks on Saudi-led coalition Patriot radar sets, and later distinguished imported production-line airframes from a hybrid example that suggested growing local assembly capacity.

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV, Loitering munition / UAV, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Qasef-1.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Length
About 2.5 m
Wingspan
About 3 m
Endurance
About 120 minutes
Guidance
GPS guidance with pre-programmed waypoints
Range
About 150 km
Warhead
About 30 kg high-explosive payload
Airframe
Ababil-II / Ababil-T family derivative
Engine
DLE-111 two-cylinder petrol model engine documented on recovered examples
Notable components
Model V10 vertical gyroscopes also documented in Iranian-manufactured Ababil-3 UAVs
Design And Recovery Notes

CAR and CSIS describe the Qasef-1 as an Iranian-linked attack UAV used in Yemen, with evidence from recovered airframes, serial markings, and component comparisons.

Airframe line

CAR places the Qasef-1 inside the Ababil-II family and says it appears to be an Iranian-designed variant of the Ababil-CH or Ababil-T.

Shared component

Model V10 vertical gyroscopes documented in Qasef-1 UAVs match the type CAR reported in Iranian-manufactured Ababil-3 UAV examples.

Attack method

UAE forces reported Qasef-1 UAVs being programmed with open-source GPS coordinates and crashed into Patriot radar arrays.

Recovery trail

CAR documented a crash-landed example near Aden in November 2016, six partially assembled UAVs intercepted in Marib later that month, and a hybrid airframe captured in 2018.

Sources: Iranian Technology Transfers to Yemen; Evolution of UAVs Employed by Houthi Forces in Yemen; The Missile War in Yemen.

Variants

Open-source investigations treat Qasef-1 as the first Houthi combat UAV in a Qasef/Ababil-T line, with later reporting distinguishing production-line, hybrid, and Qasef-2K family members.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Production-line Qasef-1Imported or externally supplied first-generation airframe

CAR documented seven 2016-2017 Qasef-1 examples with production-line construction, matching serial logic, and internal components consistent with external supply to Houthi forces for assembly.

Sources: Iranian Technology Transfers to Yemen, Evolution of UAVs Employed by Houthi Forces in Yemen

Hybrid Qasef-1Locally modified or locally produced frame

A July 2018 example documented by CAR retained many Qasef-1 internal components but used a more rudimentary frame, which CAR assessed may indicate domestic frame production.

Sources: Evolution of UAVs Employed by Houthi Forces in Yemen

Qasef-2K loitering munition / UAV, Loitering munition / UAV, Aircraft & UAVsQasef-2K loitering munition / UAVLater Qasef family combat UAV

CSIS and USIP describe Qasef-2K as a later or improved Qasef family variant, while CAR cautioned that Qasef-1 and Qasef-2K are nearly identical in design.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, Iran’s Drone Transfers to Proxies, Evolution of UAVs Employed by Houthi Forces in Yemen

Timeline

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV Key Events

  1. Crash-landed example recovered near Aden

    CAR reported that Presidential Guard forces recovered a Qasef-1 after it crash-landed near Aden International Airport.

    Sources: Iranian Technology Transfers to Yemen

  2. Six partially assembled UAVs intercepted in Marib

    CAR said UAE Presidential Guard forces intercepted a truck carrying six partially assembled Qasef-1 UAVs in Marib Governorate.

    Sources: Iranian Technology Transfers to Yemen

  3. Houthis display the type publicly

    CAR noted that Houthi forces displayed four UAVs on 26 February 2017, including the Qasef-1 they identified as matching the recovered examples.

    Sources: Iranian Technology Transfers to Yemen

Media

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV Videos

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV Images

Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV, Loitering munition / UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Qasef-1.jpg
Qasef-1 loitering munition / UAV, Loitering munition / UAV, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: Qasef-1.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
Shahed-101, Small one-way attack UAV / loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsShahed-101Small one-way attack UAV / loitering munitionThe Shahed-101 is a smaller Iranian one-way attack UAV in the wider Shahed loitering-munition family, publicly documented through recovered Iraqi material, Hezbollah launches toward Israel, Houthi use in Yemen, and Russian fielding against Ukraine. Open sources describe piston and electric-motor configurations, a compact warhead, satellite/inertial navigation, and a battlefield-to-mid-range strike role below the larger Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 classes. June 2025 Israel-Iran debris records identify a Shahed-101/107 series, but do not isolate the Shahed-101 submodel.
Arash-2, Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsArash-2Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munitionThe Arash-2 is an Iranian long-range one-way attack UAV in the Arash/Kian family, publicly described by Iranian military reporting as a strategic-range system aimed at Israeli targets and radar or fixed-infrastructure attack. Open sources describe booster-assisted or container-style launch, a claimed 2,000 km class range, and possible seeker configurations, while conflict reporting ties the type to Iranian strikes and U.S. counter-drone attacks during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.
PAC-3, Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missile, Air DefenseAir DefensePAC-3Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missilePAC-3 is the hit-to-kill interceptor family for Patriot air-defense batteries, using active radar homing and direct-impact defeat against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and other high-value air threats. PAC-3 CRI gives Patriot launchers a dense 16-round loadout, while PAC-3 MSE uses a larger dual-pulse motor and control changes for greater defended battlespace; documented combat and transfer contexts include Iraq in 2003, Yemen, Ukraine, and U.S.-Qatari Patriot defense during the June 2025 Iran missile attack on Al Udeid.

Sources

Iranian Technology Transfers to YemenPublisher: Conflict Armament Research | Note: 2014 Yemen Civil War: used by Houthi-Saleh forces against Saudi-led coalition Patriot radar sets; also supports Iran/HESA origin and Ababil-family attribution. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Evolution of UAVs Employed by Houthi Forces in YemenPublisher: Conflict Armament Research | Note: 2014 Yemen Civil War: supports Qasef-1 use by Houthi forces against coalition Patriot systems, production-line versus hybrid Qasef-1 distinctions, Qasef-2K similarity, and component evidence from recovered UAVs in Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-04The Missile War in YemenPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Qasef-1 dimensions, endurance, GPS guidance, payload estimate, the Qasef-2K follow-on variant, and general background on the Houthi drone campaign in Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Iran’s Drone Transfers to ProxiesPublisher: USIP Iran Primer | Note: Supports Houthi Qasef-1/Qasef-2K family context, Ababil-T similarity, and the July 2019 public appearance of Qasef-2K. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DoD Shows Iranian Weapons as Proof of Tehran’s Duplicitous AmbitionsPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: 2014 Yemen Civil War: used by Houthi forces as a one-way attack drone and recovered by Saudi Arabia after field use. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Qasef-1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Public-domain DoD image showing a recovered Qasef-1 from Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Qasef-1 composition.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Public-domain DoD image showing a Qasef-1 component on display after recovery from Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Qasef-1 flight path.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Public-domain DoD image showing the Qasef-1 information display used for identification and provenance context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04