The organization is manufacturing drones with a longer flight range than previous models, Karim Bani Tarafi said in an interview with IRNA on Saturday.
Bani Tarafi added that the new drones will also be able to fly at higher speed and altitudes and capture more accurate images.
The entire fleet of the UAVs, currently used by Iran’s Armed Forces, are designed and manufactured by local experts, he noted, highlighting that different types of equipment, including radars, could be installed on the new drones.
In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems, including a variety of domestically manufactured drones, according to the Press TV.
The Islamic Republic unveiled its first domestically developed long-range combat drone, Karrar (Striker), in August 2010. The country has, ever since, manufactured a whole range of other high-tech surveillance and combat UAVs.
In November 2014, Iran put into operation a final domestically manufactured version of the sophisticated U.S. RQ-170 stealth aircraft, which was downed with minimal damage by the Armed Forces’ electronic warfare unit in December 2011 while flying over the city of Kashmar, some 225 kilometers from the Afghan border.
Also, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Aerospace Force in August 2014 intercepted and shot down an Israeli stealth spy drone that intended to reach the nuclear facility in Natanz. The UAV was targeted by a surface-to-air missile before it reached the area.
Tehran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other countries since its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.
MD/PA