TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Shahed 129 enjoys a very long flight time and a high Maximum Operating Altitude, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami announced.


"The drone, Shahed 129, which enjoys high flying duration can fly for 24 hours non-stop and without any need to refueling and is also able to fire rockets at targets with a high precision capability," Salami told FNA on Wednesday.

"It also enjoys unique aviation depth, high technical capabilities and a relatively high flight duration and Maximum Operating Altitude," Salami told FNA on Wednesday.

He said that the drone means the emergence of a new aviation capability for Iran to break the monopoly of the major powers in the sky.

Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing pilotless drones.

In September 2012, Iran announced that it has started using UAVs for its air defense units as part of its broader plans for strengthening the country's air defense capability.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the National Day of Air Defense here in Tehran on September 3, 2012, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said Iran has equipped its air defense units with Haazem drones.

Haazem is a drone designed and manufactured by Iranian air defense experts in three short, mid and long range models and for air defense missions.

The drone can be used as a target for air defense systems and also for reconnaissance missions.

The UAV can also be equipped with missiles and used for aerial bombardments as well.

In relevant remarks, Commander of the Iranian Ground Force's Vali-e Asr Drone Group Colonel Reza Khaki announced on Saturday that his forces have made 150 operational flights in one year.

"In the last 6 months of the last Iranian year (ended on March 20) and the first six months of the current Iranian year (ended on September 22), we made 150 sorties of different testing and combat flights across the country and participated in 15 wargames," Colonel Khaki said in Tehran.

He said that the Ground Force's drones were used to reinvigorate security at Eastern and Southeastern borders.

The Iranian Ground Force also unveiled the country's latest home-made combat drone named 'Yasir' on Saturday.

The drone was unveiled in a ceremony attended by Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan.

Elaborating on the capabilities and specifications of Yasir drone, Pourdastan said, "One of the capabilities of Yasir is detection and targeting of remote targets."

He said that the drone is equipped with the most advanced reconnaissance systems.

The Iranian Armed Forces have recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.

Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran's wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor.

By Fars N ews Agency

 

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