Iran announces new combat drone capable of carrying missiles for air defense missions

October 16, 2012 Drones, Iran
David Cenciotti

On Oct. 14, FARS News Agency reported that Iran has developed and built a new indigenous multi-role, multi-range UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) capable to carry missiles.

Dubbed Haazem (Determination), the new type of robot comes in different versions (short, mid and long range models and air defense) and, although it’s not armed, it can also be equipped with weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.

Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said that the drone can be employed as a target for air defense systems and also for reconnaissance missions (hence, is it a simple target drone?).

Noteworthy, Haazem drones have already equipped air defense units, even if it is not clear how the armed or unarmed drones are being used to strengthen Tehran’s air defense capabilities: since it’s hard to believe they can actively target incoming threats, the most likely way they can help is by playing the role of enemy drones, aircraft during air defense exercises aimed to train radar/SAM (surface to air missile) sites operators.

Last month, Iran unveiled the new “Shahed 129″  a new UCAV (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) largely based on the Israeli Hermes 450 model.

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About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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