Iran Unveils Drones Armed With Air-to-Air Missiles

Iran has enhanced its air defense capabilities by introducing combat drones equipped with air-to-air missiles into its military inventory, according to reports from state media on Sunday.

The official IRNA news agency stated that "Numerous Karrar drones armed with air-to-air missiles have been deployed for air defense along all border areas of the country."

These drones, boasting an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), were showcased during a televised ceremony held at a military academy in Tehran on Sunday morning. The dimensions of the drone include a length of 4 meters (13 ft 1 in) and a wingspan of 2.5 meters (8 ft 2 in), with a maximum takeoff weight of 700 kg (1,543 lb). The drone is powered by a Tolloue 5 or Microturbo TRI 60-5 turbojet, providing 4.2–4.4 kN (940–990 lbf) of thrust.

Quoting General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander-in-chief of Iran army, IRNA reported, "The enemies will now have to rethink their strategies" due to the increased strength of Iranian forces.

The Karrar interceptor drone, initially unveiled in 2010, has been upgraded with a "Majid" thermal missile featuring a range of eight kilometers (five miles), entirely manufactured in Iran, as per the agency. Mousavi confirmed its success in operational tests conducted during military exercises in October.

The expansion of Iran military arsenal has raised concerns, especially among the United States and Israel, the longstanding adversaries of the Islamic Republic. Accusations include Iran providing drone fleets to allies in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Furthermore, Iran support for Hamas, engaged in hostilities with Israel since October 7, adds to the geopolitical tensions. Allegations of Iran supplying drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war have been denied by Tehran, although Western governments have responded with several rounds of sanctions over alleged arms sales.

Iran initiated drone manufacturing in the 1980s, a period marked by an eight-year war with Iraq.