The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, told the Fars News Agency on Monday that the new drone, named the Haazem-3 (Farsighted-3), will be put on display on September 1 on the occasion of Iran’s Air Defense Day.
He also noted that the remote-controlled aircraft has some of the same features as the domestically manufactured Sarir (Throne) drone, but some other features are more advanced.
Esmaili stated that the Sarir is highly maneuverable and able to change direction quickly while traveling at maximum speed. The drone can gain speed quickly, thanks to good acceleration, and can evade radar, the general added.
He went on to say that the Sarir can effectively identify and target targets on the ground. He explained that the UAV is armed with domestically designed and developed missiles, which can destroy a number of targets, including enemy aircraft.
Iran unveiled its first domestically manufactured long-range and combat drone, named the Karrar (Striker), on August 23, 2010. It reportedly has a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and can carry two 115-kilogram bombs or a precision-guided munition weighing 227 kilograms.
The Karrar can bomb targets at high speed. It uses a rocket assist system to help it take off and is recovered by parachute.
The first Iranian medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, named the Shahed-129 (Witness-129), was unveiled in September 2012. It is said that the aircraft is capable of carrying out combat and reconnaissance missions for 24 hours.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and has attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.
Tehran has repeatedly assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other countries, saying that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is based entirely on deterrence.