Samad-3
Samad-3 is a Houthi-designated UAV family associated with long-range attacks and a mixed local and external supply chain. UN Yemen Panel reporting describes inspected Samad-3 engines and identifies Samad-type UAVs in Houthi operations. The Panel separates inspected components from attack-specific claims, so this page labels attribution reported rather than confirmed for individual Red Sea incidents.
Samad-3 at a glance
| Manufacturer | Houthi military-industrial network; UN reporting alleges Iranian assistance but does not establish a single commercial manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yemen / Iranian-linked supply chain |
| Category | One-way attack UAV |
| Role | Long-range one-way attack and reconnaissance UAV family. |
| Aliases | Sammad-3 · Sammad series |
| Evidence status | Reported attribution |
What the public record establishes
UN Yemen Panel reporting describes inspected Samad-3 engines and identifies Samad-type UAVs in Houthi operations. The Panel separates inspected components from attack-specific claims, so this page labels attribution reported rather than confirmed for individual Red Sea incidents.
The distinction between platform identity and event attribution matters. A manufacturer page can establish what a drone is; an official military release, UN report, or conflict-monitoring source is needed to establish where it appears in a war. Where those records do not align, this page keeps the uncertainty visible.
This is a non-operational reference page. It explains the manufacturer, platform family, and public conflict record without providing instructions for building, targeting, deploying, or modifying a weapon system.
What is publicly documented about Samad-3 specifications
Public reporting on Samad-3 centers on engine components and airframe identification, not a disclosed range or payload figure. UN Yemen Panel documentation examines inspected propulsion hardware without publishing a manufacturer-stated performance envelope.
This profile does not list a range or payload spec for that reason. Any figure in circulation outside the cited UN and CENTCOM documents should be treated as an unverified secondary claim, not a manufacturer specification.
Who is reported to build and operate Samad-3
No publicly traded company is tied to Samad-3 production. UN Yemen Panel reporting and the CENTCOM Red Sea release both describe a Houthi-operated system with alleged Iranian material support, not a disclosed commercial manufacturer or contract.
For program-level context on the broader Iranian-linked supply chain that reporting references, see Iran drones. For how this site treats unit-cost claims when no manufacturer price is public, see military drone cost.
How Samad-3 fits among named Houthi and regional systems
Within the Houthi inventory, Samad-3 is documented as the longer-range one-way attack and reconnaissance system, distinct from the shorter-range Qasef-2K profile on this site.
For the wider Iranian-linked one-way-attack lineage this reporting references, see the Shahed drones family hub. For how one-way attack is defined against other UAV categories, see types of military drones, and for the regional conflict picture beyond Yemen, see Middle East drones.
Wars covered
- Yemen and Red Sea Conflict — 2015–present; maritime escalation from late 2023
Samad-3 FAQ
Who makes the Samad-3?
Houthi military-industrial network; UN reporting alleges Iranian assistance but does not establish a single commercial manufacturer
Where has the Samad-3 been documented?
Yemen and Red Sea Conflict
Is the Samad-3 identification fully confirmed?
Reported attribution. This status applies to the level of evidence described on this page, not to every individual battlefield claim.
Primary and monitoring sources
- UN Yemen Panel report on Samad-3 engines (official)
- UN Yemen Panel report on Samad-type UAVs (official)
- US CENTCOM Red Sea UAV attack release (official)