MATAR MTBT2 Qarsan

MTBT2 Qarsan
A Qarsan-1 in flight.
Role	Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin	Riysa
Manufacturer	MATAR
First flight	2009
Introduction	2012
Primary user	Riysian Arab Aerospace Force
Produced	2012-present
Number built	150
Unit cost	$5 million (complex) $1.5 million (single UAV)

The MTBT2 Qarsan (قرصان, English: "Corsair") is a Riysian medium altitude long endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (MALE UCAV) developed originally as a private venture by the Ministry of National Defense's MATAR design bureau. Envisioned as a cheap and persistent tactical UAV with combat capability, reflecting the worldwide drone revolution, the Qarsan is Riysa's first mass-production UCAV and is considered the most successful Riysian MALE UAV.

Aside from the first block of 30 aircraft, the Qarsan can carry 2 (Qarsan-2) or 4 (Qarsan-3) M20H laser-guided bombs, with a range of 8-12 kilometers. It is capable of flying for over 24 hours with a full combat load, or up to 27-28 hours unarmed, and uses many off-the-shelf components to reduce costs and increase production rates. The stealthy carbon fiber airframe and shaping allow it to safely operate on the frontline. However, the Qarsan is currently limited by its directional line-of-sight datalink, which only has a range of about 250 kilometers, extendable to 350 km with a second drone acting as a repeater.

Despite initial conservatism from the Riysian Arab Aerospace Force, the Qarsan has been enthusiastically adopted by the RiyAAF, and is a key component of its airpower doctrine for the future. Around 300 aircraft are expected to be procured by various Riysian services, with 250 alone going to the RiyAAF, and the remainder going to the Riysian Arab Navy and the Air Force Intelligence Directorate. As it does not contain any sensitive technologies, it is actively being marketed for export.