[3] As of 2017 the Shahed 129 and Saegheh are expected to form the backbone of Iran's high-end UAV fleet for at least the next decade.

[8] Alternatively, a number of sources have reported that the Shahed 129 was reverse engineered from an Israeli Hermes 450 UAV that crashed in Iran.

[10] The first, with model number 129-001, first flew in spring 2012[3] and was first used operationally to livestream footage of ballistic missile tests on 13 July 2012.

[3] However, it suffered problems with its planned armament and did not make any drone strikes until early 2016, when new Sadid-345 precision-guided munitions were integrated.

[14] The Shahed 129 is a large single-engine propeller-driven UAV with V-tail vertical stabilizers, high-mounted straight wings, and a pusher configuration, generally similar to the MQ-1 Predator.

[3] It has a long, narrow cylindrical fuselage approximately 65–75 cm in diameter, and is fabricated from large panels of composite material with an aluminum alloy superstructure.

[3] It has a chin-mounted gimbal electro-optic/infrared sensor for day/night missions, retractable landing gear,[a] and a real-time video data link.

[8][10] The Sadid-361 was not operationally deployed; one source says this was due to problems with the launcher mechanism and guidance system,[10] while others say R&D was not completed because American sanctions prevented Iran from obtaining necessary components.

[19] The drone can use an autopilot system, similar to that used on the Karrar UAV, to follow predefined way-points beyond its control station's communication range.

[10] On 10 April 2014, rebels in Syria recorded a UAV resembling a Shahed 129 flying over Eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

[10] Iranian military officials say that Shahed 129 UAV can increase Iran's surveillance capabilities in border areas such as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

[35] The drone approached in a similar manner to the previous incident and was shot down before it reached the range at which it could deploy its weapons.

[41] In spring 2019, Shahed 129s were used by the IRGC to assist in relief operations in flood-affected regions of Khuzestan Province, Iran.

[3] Iran has not commented on the purpose of the redesigned nose, and Jane's speculates it could house a Ku-band beyond-line-of-sight satellite link or synthetic aperture radar.

[45] Data from Aviation Week[3] unless otherwise citedGeneral characteristics Performance Armament Avionics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era