On Wednesday, the Iranian Army started the large-scale drills across the country with the presence of different units of the Army, involving more than 150 advanced unmanned aircraft.

The military exercises were held by the participation of troops from the four units of the Army, namely the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Force, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.

According to officials, more than 150 new advanced drones manufactured by the Army and the Defense Ministry in cooperation with local knowledge-based companies were flown in the war game.

The drills covered all areas across Iran, from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to the northern territories.

Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari noted on Tuesday that the accuracy and power of weapons... the capabilities of guidance and control systems and the combat capabilities of drones are among the things that will be tested and evaluated in this exercise.

He went on to say that this is the first time that a joint drone exercise is conducted at the level of the four forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army and the country's joint air defense base.

"This is only a part of the drone power of Iran's Army, which is carrying out operations in various reconnaissance, surveillance and combat missions," he asserted.

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

[caption id="attachment_399994" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Picture provided by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on August 27, 2022 shows the Iranian Armed Forces’ latest precision strike unmanned aerial vehicle[/caption]
Armed Forces unveil latest precision strike drone
In the war games, the Iranian Defense Ministry has unveiled the latest precision strike unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by the country's Armed Forces.

Ababil (Flock of Birds), as the new drone is named, was unveiled during a visit by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqher Qalibaf to an exhibition held by the ministry on Saturday, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported.

The Armed Forces’ latest achievement in the field of unmanned aircraft is a cruise missile carrying a drone with hight destructive power.

The aircraft has been outfitted with an optical seeker and a warhead capable of detecting targets. It is also able to capture and relay live images of the targets, lock on terrestrial targets and destroy them with precision.

The Iranian Armed Forces are yet to unveil the exact flying range of the new drone and its destructive power.
Iran became an exporter of military drones
Back in August, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that the country had become an exporter of military drones and that the Islamic Republic holds the upper hand in the field defensive aerospace technology.

“In the military field, we did not have, in the past, the capabilities that we enjoy today. In the past, we imported [even] barbed wire, but now we export drones,” Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division said at the time.

A month earlier, Iran's Navy incorporated a special division tasked with transporting and operating various drones.

The first drone carrier division of the Navy, which is comprised of different surface and submersible units, was unveiled during a ceremony held in the international waters of the Indian Ocean.
Special Navy division tasks
A month earlier, Iran's Navy incorporated a special division tasked with transporting and operating various drones.

The first drone carrier division of the Navy, which is comprised of different surface and submersible units, was unveiled during a ceremony held in the international waters of the Indian Ocean.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

 

By : Fatemeh Khoshrou