Used by Houthi forces in the 2014 Yemen Civil War for long-range attacks; CSIS reports Samad-3 was purportedly used in the July 2018 Abu Dhabi International Airport attack and in attempts to target Riyadh.
Role detailsAircraft & UAVs
Samad-3 UAV
Also known as
- Sammad-3
- Samad 3
- Sammad 3
- KAS-04
The Samad-3 is the extended-range strike member of the Houthi-operated Samad UAV family, using a Samad-2-like airframe with added fuel capacity for attacks beyond Yemen. It is documented in the 2014 Yemen Civil War and 2023 Red Sea Crisis as a long-range one-way attack UAV, with later reporting also identifying KAS-04 as the same long-range variant.
Role in Conflicts
- Side
- Houthi movement
Used by Houthi forces in the 2023 Red Sea Crisis as a long-range one-way attack UAV; USNI reported that USS Carney shot down a Houthi-launched KAS-04 in the southern Red Sea, and maritime reporting identifies KAS-04 as the Samad-3 long-range variant.
Role detailsProfile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Yemen
- Built by
- Houthi movement
- Type
- Long-range one-way attack UAV
- Service note
- 2019-present
- Designer
- Houthi movement
- Designed
- By 2019
- Produced
- By 2019
Specifications
- Range
- Houthi-claimed 1,500 km; open-source modeling estimated more than 1,800 km
- Length
- 2.8 m
- Wingspan
- 4.5 m
- Diameter
- 0.84 m
- Payload
- 18 kg explosive payload reported for Samad-2/Samad-3 family attack configuration
- Configuration
- Fixed-wing UAV with V-tail, rear pusher propeller, and added upper fuel tank on the Samad-3
Extended-Range Profile
Samad-3 matters because it is the Samad family member most often tied to longer-range strike claims. The sources describe a small, slow fixed-wing UAV, but the added fuel volume gives it a different operational problem from the shorter-range Samad models.
| Feature | What it means for the page | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Family position | Samad-3 sits above Samad-1 and Samad-2 as the extended-range strike model. | UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, S/2020/326; Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
| Range estimate | Open-source modeling found that Samad-3 could exceed 1,800 km range, enough to reach distant Saudi and Gulf targets from Houthi-held Yemen. | Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
| KAS-04 identification | Later Red Sea and Tel Aviv reporting used the KAS-04/Samad-3 identification for the same long-range UAV type. | Yemen's Houthi Rebels Claim Long-Range Drone Strike on Tel Aviv; IDF Press Briefing, July 19, 2024 |
Variants
The Samad-3 is treated as the extended-range strike variant in the Samad family, alongside the smaller Samad-1 reconnaissance UAV and the larger Samad-2/UAV-X family member.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Reconnaissance family member | UN and technical reporting identify Samad-1 as the reconnaissance baseline of the family, distinct from the longer-range Samad-3 attack model. Sources: UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, S/2020/326, Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
 | Larger reconnaissance and attack family member | Science & Global Security treats Samad-3 as a Samad-2-derived aircraft with increased fuel capacity and longer estimated range. Sources: Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
Samad Family Links
Samad-3 is the extended-range strike member of the same Houthi-operated UAV family as Samad-1 and Samad-2.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Reconnaissance UAV | Samad-1 represents the smaller reconnaissance baseline of the family, while Samad-3 extends the line into long-range strike use. Sources: UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, S/2020/326, Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
| Reconnaissance and attack UAV | Technical analysis describes Samad-3 as Samad-2-derived and distinguished by added fuel capacity for longer flights. Sources: Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces |
Timeline
Samad-3 UAV Key Events
Houthi claim links Samad-3 to Abu Dhabi attack
CSIS summarizes Houthi claims that Samad-3 was used in the July 2018 Abu Dhabi International Airport attack, while also treating the event as a reported attack rather than independently verified damage.
Sources: The Missile War in Yemen
Displayed at Sana'a weapons exhibition
CSIS reported that the Houthis unveiled Samad-1, Samad-3, and Qasef UAVs at a military exhibition in Sana'a.
Sources: Houthis Unveil New Ballistic Missile, Drones
UN panel documents Samad-3 design details
The UN Panel of Experts on Yemen included Samad-3 design material in its 2020 final report, giving later technical studies a baseline for the family distinction.
Sources: UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, S/2020/326
Flight-performance study estimates extended range
Science & Global Security modeling found that Samad-3 could exceed 1,800 km range, unlike the shorter-range Samad-2, explaining why the variant could threaten distant regional targets.
Sources: Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed Forces
USS Carney shoots down KAS-04 in southern Red Sea
USNI reported that USS Carney shot down a Houthi-launched KAS-04 UAV in the southern Red Sea while escorting U.S. shipping.
Sources: USS Carney Shot Down an Iranian KAS-04 Drone
IDF identifies Tel Aviv strike UAV as likely Samad-3
An IDF spokesperson said the UAV that struck central Tel Aviv was likely a Samad-3 launched from Yemen and likely upgraded for greater range.
Sources: IDF Press Briefing, July 19, 2024
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Houthis Unveil New Ballistic Missile, DronesPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Samad-3 background and Houthi unveiling in Sana'a, Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-06-29The Missile War in YemenPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct conflict-use: Houthis used Samad-3 in the 2014 Yemen Civil War, including the July 2018 Abu Dhabi International Airport attack and reported attempts to target Riyadh; also supports the quoted Samad-3 range and dimensions. | Accessed: 2026-06-29UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, S/2020/326Publisher: United Nations Security Council | Note: Supports Samad-family background, Samad-3 design context, and the Samad-1/Samad-2/Samad-3 family distinction used in the variants and relationship sections. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Flight Performance Analysis of the Samad Attack Drones Operated by Houthi Armed ForcesPublisher: Science & Global Security | Note: Supports Samad-3 technical background, Samad-family variant distinctions, and the estimated extended range of more than 1,800 km. | Accessed: 2026-06-29USS Carney Shot Down an Iranian KAS-04 DronePublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct conflict-use: USS Carney shot down a Houthi-launched KAS-04 UAV in the southern Red Sea while escorting U.S. shipping. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Yemen's Houthi Rebels Claim Long-Range Drone Strike on Tel AvivPublisher: The Maritime Executive | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis conflict-use context by identifying KAS-04 as the Samad-3 long-range variant and describing Houthi use against U.S. shipping in the Red Sea. | Accessed: 2026-06-29IDF Press Briefing, July 19, 2024Publisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports background on the July 19, 2024 Tel Aviv strike identification: the IDF assessed the UAV was likely a Samad-3 launched from Yemen and likely upgraded for extended range. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Sacred Defence Week parade, 2023, in Bandar Abbas (022).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance, author, and CC BY 4.0 license for the primary gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Samad-1 UAV (01).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance, author, and CC BY 4.0 license for the gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Samad-1 UAV in flight.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance, author, and CC BY 4.0 license for the gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29IDF interception Iranian drones en route to Israel, May 2021. XIX.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance, author, and CC BY-SA 3.0 license for the gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29