Iran unveils indigenous combat drone armed with missiles

Iran has unveiled its first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) armed with air defense missiles suitable for aerial combats.

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami told the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday that the combat drone has successfully passed operational tests by hitting predetermined targets and is now ready to be delivered to the country's armed forces.

He added that the new drone has increased the operational range of the armed forces’ drones and their capability to track, chase, intercept and destroy intruding aircraft.

“The drone is capable of destroying various flying aircraft including fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters,” Hatami said.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on August 24 unveiled two unmanned aerial vehicles, dubbed Karrar-4 and Mohajer-4.

The indigenous Karrar-4 drone has the capability to trace intruding aircraft and is equipped with various air defense capabilities for operation at high altitudes.

Mohajer-4 is a photogrammetric drone capable of carrying out aerial mapping for military and civilian purposes.

Iran unveiled its first domestically-manufactured long-range combat drone, the Karrar (Striker), on August 23, 2010. Since then the country has manufactured a variety of other high-tech surveillance and combat unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other countries since its defense doctrine is based entirely on deterrence.