Iran Pioneering Drone Production

Iran is a leading country in manufacturing different types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a pioneer in producing advanced unmanned reconnaissance, target and combat drones,” Fars News Agency quoted Vahidi as saying.

The minister added that the country is currently producing different types and models of reconnaissance, target and combat drones.
Vahidi had previously announced that the country was mass-producing new types of combat drones.

Iran successfully tested a home-made radar-evading UAV with bombing capabilities in June 2009.

In February, the country inaugurated the production line of two home-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with bombing and reconnaissance capabilities.
The two hi-tech drones named ‘Ra’d’ (Thunder) and ‘Nazir” (Harbinger) are capable of conducting long-range reconnaissance, patrolling, assault and bombing missions with high precision.

Ra’d which is a UAV of choice for assault and bombing missions has the capability to destroy the specified targets with high pinpoint precision.
Experts believe that once the UAV goes into aerial missions, it would enhance the reconnaissance, patrolling and defensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Force.

The country began constructing a plant in the northern province of Mazandaran in 2008 to mass produce UAVs for different civilian and military missions.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2010 unveiled the country’s first home-made combat Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

The combat drone, named Karrar, was unveiled in a special ceremony in Tehran marking the national ‘Defense Industry Day’.

The Karrar UAV is capable of carrying a military payload for bombing missions against ground targets. It is also capable of flying long distances at a very high speed.