TEHRAN, — Iran’s Army has showcased an upgraded version of its Arash one-way attack drone in footage released from an underground drone production facility. The video was shown during a visit by Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Major General Amir Hatami, highlighting Iran’s expanding drone manufacturing infrastructure and efforts to improve payload capacity, navigation and targeting.
The latest variant, referred to in some reports as the Arash-3, features a warhead weighing 100 kilograms, compared with 50 kilograms on the previous version. According to an Army drone expert featured in the video, upgrades to the warhead’s incendiary and high-explosive materials, together with other changes, increase its reported damage potential by approximately 2.3 times.
Arash-3 Features and Technical Upgrades
The upgraded drone incorporates improvements to its navigation systems, including greater numbers and a wider variety of systems designed to operate without GPS. These changes are intended to help the drone navigate in heavily jammed environments using internal controls and available satellite navigation.
The platform also features artificial intelligence-assisted precision targeting. A jet-engine-powered variant has also been reported as part of the programme. Open-source information cited in reports gives the Arash family a potential range of up to 2,000 kilometres and speeds of approximately 600 km/h, although these figures have not been independently verified for the latest variant.
The Arash-3 is part of a wider family of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles developed for different operational requirements.
Iran Expands Drone Production
During the visit, Hatami said Iran’s military equipment production had not declined during recent conflicts and that manufacturing facilities had been expanded.
“Our production has not decreased during the war. We have expanded our production facilities and now have substantial reserves,” Hatami stated.
He also referred to an agreement to strengthen the Army’s drone capabilities, signed in cooperation with the late Major General Mousavi during Hatami’s earlier tenure as defence minister. The programme now involves scientific researchers, universities, technical institutions, specialists and knowledge-based companies.
Iranian military sources said drone stockpiles had increased in scale, variety and technological sophistication compared with the period before the Ramadan war. Production of drones and smaller unmanned aerial vehicles reportedly continues around the clock with the participation of young Iranian specialists.
The released footage also included material that Iranian sources said had been recorded earlier or prepared for public presentation. The clips did not disclose sensitive current production locations.
Arash-2 Operational History and Future Plans
The previous-generation Arash-2 has been used by the Iranian Army, also known as Artesh, in attacks against US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as during Operations True Promise and Thunderbolt.
Iran continues to use unmanned systems for border monitoring and surveillance, including in airspace east of the Strait of Hormuz and over the Gulf of Oman.
Hatami said drones, unmanned surface vessels and micro air vehicles have become important components of Iran’s defence doctrine, particularly for asymmetric warfare. The Army is involved in their production, distribution, maintenance and operational training.
Iranian military sources describe the country as one of the world’s four leading drone powers, citing its expanding production capacity and increasingly diverse systems. The Army is also preparing another drone system, with its official name and specifications expected to be announced in the near future.
——— End of Article ———