Iran unveils drones armed with air-to-air missiles

The Islamic republic boosts air defence with Karrar drones, increasing operational range and capabilities

Iran has reinforced its air defence capabilities by adding combat drones equipped with air-to-air missiles to its arsenal, state media reported on Sunday.

"Dozens of Karrar drones armed with air-to-air missiles have been added for air defence in all border areas of the country," the official IRNA news agency said.

When equipped with the Majid missile, the Karrar drone is capable of targeting aerial threats up to a distance of 8 kilometers. The drone boasts a maximum flight altitude of 43,000 feet and can operate within a range of 400 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/rn5lFmvKqJ

— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) December 10, 2023

The drones, with an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), were exhibited Sunday morning during a televised ceremony organised at a military academy in Tehran.

"The enemies will now have to rethink their strategies" because the Iranian forces have "become more powerful", IRNA quoted the commander-in-chief of Iran's army, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, as saying.

Iranian homemade Karrar drones were exhibited during a televised ceremony organised at a military academy in Tehran. PHOTO: X/ @IrnaEnglish

The Karrar interceptor drone, the first version of which was unveiled in 2010, has been equipped with a "Majid" thermal missile with a range of eight kilometres (five miles) "made entirely in Iran", added the agency.

It "succeeded in its operational tests" during military exercises held in October, Mousavi said.

Read also: Iran finalises deal to buy Russian fighter jets – Tasnim

The development of Iran's military arsenal has sparked concern among many countries, particularly the United States and Israel, the sworn enemies of the Islamic republic.

The latter accuse Tehran of providing fleets of drones to its allies in the Middle East, notably to Lebanese group Hezbollah, and to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran also backs the Palestinian group Hamas, which has been engaged in a war with Israel since it launched deadly attacks there on October 7.

Karrar Drone Joins Iranian Army Air Defensehttps://t.co/tMG1CQABuu pic.twitter.com/EO3HC4MHHC

— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) December 10, 2023

Tehran has been accused by Kyiv and its Western allies of providing Russia with drones for use in the Ukraine war, a claim Tehran denies.

Western governments, however, imposed several rounds of biting sanctions on Iran over the alleged arms sales.

Iran began manufacturing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq.