Iran's New Loitering Munition With 41 Km Range Unveiled at PARTNER 2025

At the PARTNER 2025 defense expo in Belgrade, Serbia, Iran showcased a previously unseen loitering munition, drawing significant attention from military analysts and defense experts worldwide. Displayed in a sealed yellow canister with English launch markings and a visible "DIRECTION ON LAUNCH" stencil, the system reflects Iran’s growing emphasis on compact, precision-guided strike drones. Its presence at an international defense exhibition in Europe signals the increasing geographic reach of Iranian loitering munitions and their potential export orientation.

Design and Specifications

The munition is marked GLMD-24W4.5-R2 and features a canisterized, tube-launched design. With a total weight of approximately 41 kilograms and a 24-kilogram HEAT-fragmentation warhead, it is engineered for short- to medium-range tactical use against light vehicles, personnel, and soft infrastructure. The system incorporates a folding multi-blade pusher propeller, fixed canards, and a pointed nose likely housing an electro-optical TV seeker, suggesting operator-in-the-loop targeting for terminal precision.

Strategic Implications

In terms of capability, this system bridges the gap between smaller kamikaze drones like the Switchblade 300 and heavier, longer-range models such as the Switchblade 600. While it may lack the extended endurance and advanced autonomy of U.S. systems, it offers a larger warhead and simpler deployment. These characteristics make it highly adaptable for irregular forces, proxy actors, or militaries seeking low-cost standoff strike solutions without dependence on complex logistics or ISR networks.

Strategically, the display of such a system highlights Iran’s intent to shape asymmetric warfare through scalable loitering munitions. Its deployment model supports distributed use by small teams or vehicle-mounted units, enabling rapid engagement of high-value targets in contested zones. The fact that this system is being presented outside Iran reinforces Tehran’s broader ambition to position itself as a global supplier of battlefield loitering munitions, a trend with direct implications for NATO force protection, convoy security, and critical infrastructure defense.

The unveiling of this loitering munition at PARTNER 2025 underscores a larger shift in the tactical drone landscape, where nations like Iran are leveraging compact loitering munitions to offer battlefield precision at scale. Their growing availability will demand faster adaptation in counter-UAS doctrine, sensor coverage, and force protection strategies across multiple theaters.