Iran Air Force Boosting Drone Units
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Commander of Iran’s Air Force said a series of plans have been formulated to promote the combat capabilities of the Air Force, including by employing drones.
Addressing a military gathering in Tehran on Monday, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh said the Air Force is employing unmanned aerial vehicles, in addition to the regular manned jets, to boost its combat power.
He also noted that his forces are making smart munitions and systems as part of efforts to enhance operational capabilities.
In an interview with Tasnim in February, Brigadier General Nasirzadeh unveiled plans to extend the range of military drones beyond 1,000 kilometers.
He had also noted that the Air Force would equip its drones with electronic warfare equipment as well as bombs and air-to-ground missiles, and would also mount jet engines on some of the pilotless aircraft.
On January 31, the Air Force unveiled the first homegrown pilotless wide-body jet, dubbed ‘Khodkar’ (automatic), equipped with a J-85 turbojet engine.
Iranian military technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.
Tehran has always assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to regional countries, saying that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.
