Iran’s Navy Unveils Drone-Carrying Division


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Navy on Friday unveiled its first division of watercraft carrying various military unmanned aerial vehicles.

The naval division, which joined the Iranian Navy’s southern fleet, consists of military ships and submarines carrying a broad range of combat, reconnaissance and suicide drones.

The event was attended by Iran’s Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi.

The UAVs on board the naval division include advanced aircraft manufactured by the Iranian Army and the Defense Ministry in cooperation with the knowledge-based centers, including Pelican, Homa, Arash, Chamrosh, Jubin, Ababil-4 and Bavar-5 drones, which flew over the Indian Ocean waters.

Apart from various types of Iranian sea-based drones that flew in the event, a number of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) combat drones went into the air from the homegrown Fateh and Tareq submarines.

In comments at the event, Major General Mousavi said Iran needs to boost its defense power constantly considering the aggressive nature of the hegemony system.

He said the expansion of military capabilities encompasses various spheres, including the drone industry which is highly significant.

On Wednesday, the commander of Iran’s Army Ground Force had unveiled plans for the establishment of five new military units operating with unmanned aerial vehicles.

Pointing to the sophisticated UAVs that the Army’s “Drone Base 313” has taken possession of, including cruise drones and the Heidar drones, Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said the Ground Force has submitted a proposal for the establishment of five drone units.