Iranian Army receives 200 long-range, strategic drones equipped with missiles

Iran’s Army has received more than 200 long-range strategic drones which have been designed and manufactured by the country’s Defense Ministry in cooperation with the Army.

Mass delivery of the new strategic, sea-based and vertical launch drones took place in a ceremony in some parts of the country on Thursday in the presence of top military brass, including Chief Commander of the Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and Deputy of Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh.

The new anti-radar drones have different missions of reconnaissance, destruction, combat reconnaissance, aerial interception, and hitting mobile and fixed targets with a low radar cross-section.

With changes in the propulsion, guidance, control and navigation systems, the drones have been equipped with various types of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, smart air-based standoff bombs, and an electronic warfare system.

The new features have turned the drones into long-range, stealth aircraft that can carry out special operations.

The delivery of the new drones to the Army is part of an agreement reached with the Defense Ministry last year to boost the Armed Forces’ drone power. Under the first phase of the agreement, the Ministry has undertaken to equip the Army with 1,000 UAVs.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made substantial headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the Armed Forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.

ME