Iranian army unveils new drones in large-scale military exercise

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has unveiled several new drones, including both suicide and reconnaissance models, during a large-scale military exercise in southwestern Iran.

The exercise, named Payambar-e Azam (The Great Prophet) 19, started on February 17 and is currently underway in the region, Caliber.Az reports citing Iranian media.

The IRGC introduced a range of homegrown unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the ongoing drill. Among the new drones presented were:

The Bina hybrid reconnaissance drone, with an operational range of 40 kilometers.

The Qandil 4 and 5 reconnaissance drones, boasting a range of 100 kilometers and flight endurance of 5 and 10 hours, respectively.

The Arbaeen VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drone, an unmanned bomber capable of carrying a 7-kg bomb within a range of 10 km.

The Ra’ad-2 suicide drone, with a 20-km range and a 5-kg warhead.

The Ra’ad-3 suicide drone, which has a 100-km range and a 12-kg warhead.

The Saeqeh suicide drone, featuring a 20-km range and a 1-kg warhead.

Additionally, the IRGC introduced the Saber combat micro aerial vehicle, designed to carry various anti-tank and anti-personnel weapons within a range of 5 km.

The first stage of the war game also saw the debut of the Rezvan loitering drone, which has a 20-km range and a flight endurance of 20 minutes.

These new UAVs are expected to enhance the IRGC Ground Force's capabilities, especially in combating terrorist groups operating in the mountainous regions of Iran.

Loitering munitions, also known as "kamikaze drones" or "suicide drones," are designed for precise strikes. "Once launched, these systems use advanced optical and thermal sensors to detect and track targets. They patrol designated airspaces, scanning for potential threats, and when they find a target, they dive into it, detonating themselves to ensure destruction."

This combination of surveillance and striking capability makes loitering munitions highly effective in modern warfare. They are particularly useful in ground combat and anti-ambush operations due to their small size and portability, making them an ideal weapon for ground forces.

By Vafa Guliyeva