Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad Eslami says the country will unveil its latest indigenously-produced long-range drone in late May.

“The latest Iranian long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which uses high technology, will be unveiled on May 24,” Eslami said Wednesday.

He said that drones are categorized in terms of range and altitude, adding that long-range UAVs are considered strategic.

Eslami pointed to Iran’s capabilities in designing and manufacturing UAVs and said the country has also succeeded in producing jet engines that can be mounted on the drones, including Karrar UAV.

He said that Iran will in the future unveil more drones that can fly at the maximum altitude of 30,000 feet, have a 24-hour flight duration capability and can carry out special operations.

Iran unveiled its first indigenous long-range drone, Karrar, in August 2010. The aircraft is capable of carrying a military payload of rockets to carry out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a high speed, and gathering information.


In September 2012, the country also unveiled a new indigenous UAV, Shahed 129, with a 24-hour nonstop flight capability.

In December, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said that Iran had also launched a production line for the manufacture of ScanEagle-type drones.
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News ID 184165