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Iranian Army Expands Arsenal with 1,000 New Drones

By Nigar Bayramli January 14, 2025

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Some 1,000 drones were officially handed over in a ceremony attended by the Iranian Army's Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi and Defense Minister Brig Gen Aziz Nasirzadeh, on January 13, 2025. / Tasnim News Agency

The Iranian Army has received approximately 1,000 drones, which have been distributed to several bases across the country.

These new drones were jointly designed and produced by the Army and the Ministry of Defense, with input from specialists in both organizations as well as “knowledge-based companies.” They were officially handed over in a ceremony attended by the Iranian Army chief and the defense minister on January 13, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

The drones reportedly boast a range of over 2,000 kilometers and are equipped with high destructive power. They have the ability to penetrate defenses with minimal radar detectability, exceptional flight endurance, self-reliance, and no need for control from start to finish. Given these capabilities, the drones are suited for “special missions” and will enhance border reconnaissance and monitoring.

Earlier, the Ground Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled and put into operation its newest reconnaissance and “suicide drone.” The Rezvan drone, which has a range of 20 km and can fly for 20 minutes, was introduced during the Great Prophet 19 military drills on January 9.

Equipped with a camera mounted on its front, the Rezvan drone transmits images to the user after launch, allowing them to select and target their desired objectives. Its quick and easy deployment enhances the capabilities of the Ground Force’s rapid response units, particularly in combating terrorist groups in complex mountainous terrain.

On January 9, Brigadier General Sheikhian, commander of the Air Defense Division of the IRGC Aerospace Force, announced that Iran would soon test an indigenous anti-ballistic defense system. He stated that the new system “will certainly create many equations in the military field and in the minds of countries that are at odds with the Islamic Republic.”

He also discussed a drill held on January 7 aimed at protecting the Natanz nuclear facility, which has frequently been targeted by Israeli attacks and sabotage operations. The general revealed that the low-altitude missile, 9 Dey, “successfully hit and destroyed all its targets” during the exercise. He added that the missile “can engage targets in a certain dimension against glide bombs, smart bombs, bunker-busting bombs, or cruise missiles.”

Referring to the ongoing Great Prophet 19 military drills, which began at various sites across the country on January 4, Sheikhian emphasized that “basically, the exercises are part of ongoing and annual programs in the armed forces and are carried out in order to practice our combat skills before things reach the level of war.”

In the meantime, Iran will soon unveil new missile and drone “cities,” according to Major General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC. Salami made this statement while addressing an event in Iran’s southwestern city of Abadan on January 10.

He highlighted the IRGC’s advancements in military equipment production, noting that new facilities housing missiles and drones would soon be unveiled to “display the enormity and depth of Iran’s power.”

Salami further revealed that the IRGC Aerospace Force is manufacturing “new special missiles” and added that Iran has strengthened its capabilities “by acquiring the technology to hit targets at a distance of thousands of kilometers using artificial intelligence.”

On January 10, the Aerospace Force of the IRGC unveiled an underground missile base. The facility houses advanced Iranian missiles, including the “Emad,” “Qadr,” and “Qiam,” all of which are liquid-fueled. This subterranean base is one of hundreds belonging to the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.

Reports indicated that missiles were launched from this base during Iran’s attacks on Israel, operations codenamed True Promise 1 and 2, in April and October 2024. On October 1, 2024, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, citing the attacks as retaliation for the assassinations of key resistance figures, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Abbas Nilforoushan, the operations chief of the IRGC’s Quds Force.