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Iran Air Force commander: Many countries eager to purchase Iranian drones

Sunday, 09 June 2024 5:42 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 09 June 2024 5:53 PM ]

An Iranian Shahed 149 or Gaza unmanned combat aerial vehicle, operated by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), is seen in this undated file picture. (Photo by DEFApress news agency)

Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, says many foreign countries are eager to purchase and acquire the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which Iranian military experts have developed domestically.

During a visit to Shahid Yasini Tactical Air Base in Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr on Sunday, the commander highlighted the Iranian Air Force, alongside other divisions of the country’s Armed Forces, has managed to manufacture a broad spectrum of drones with various operational ranges.

Vahedi further noted that many foreign countries are interested in buying Iranian drones.

He stated that Iran’s military industries have achieved great progress following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Earlier this year, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force took delivery of large numbers of strategic combat, reconnaissance, destruction and radar drones.

The delivery of the homegrown unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) took place during a ceremony on January 23 in the presence of Chief Commander of the Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.

Iran makes headway in drone production, says export of defense equipment up by 5 times

Iran

The drones were designed and manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry in cooperation with Iran’s Army amid Western sanctions.

They included strategic multi-purpose Abail-4 and Ababil-5 drones, which are capable of carrying out all kinds of reconnaissance, surveillance, electronic warfare, combat and signal data collection missions.

Among the delivered UAVs were Arash and Bavar that can perform destruction, along with long-range and precision-strike missions, as well as Karrar, a jet-powered drone with the ability to perform a variety of target, combat and aerial interception missions.

The upgraded drones were equipped with self-protection, anti-electronic warfare and indigenous navigation systems, as well as smart precision-strike weapons.

They have also special and up-to-date capabilities for use with other weapon and network-based operation systems.

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