Iran’s authorities announced today that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have intercepted and downed an ‘alien’ drone during the first day of the ‘Great Prophet 8′ exercise taking place in Southern Iran this week.
It is not clear from the announcement whether the event is part of the training program or an actual intercept involving a foreign unmanned system has taken place.
In the past two years Iran intercepted several American UAS, among them a CIA Lockheed Martin RQ-170 and Boeing/InSitu Scan-Eagle, supporting the US Navy, both were captured virtually intact.
Apparently, the Iranian exercise planners have included these scenarios in their plan. ”During the opening phase of the ‘Great Prophet 8′ exercise IRGC’s electronic warfare systems detected signals showing that alien drones were trying to enter the country (airspace),” Spokesman of the Wargames General Hamid Sarkheili told reporters on Saturday evening. Sarkheili said the IRGC is now in possession of the pictures taken by the UAS and will release them if Okayed by the country’s senior commanders.
While the Fars news agency refers to the incident as an actual intercept of a foreign UAS, another agency, PressTV has translated the same news item with a different tone, referring to the drone as a ‘mock spy drone’, understood to be part of the exercise scenario.
According to Sarkheili, UAS are extensively used throughout the exercise, he noted that in addition to reconnaissance, UAS will also be used in attack missions, as ‘suicide drones’, capable of attacking targets in positions difficult for targeting by other weapon systems. Deputy Defence Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs Mohammad Eslami recently confirmed that Iran is developing a ‘strategic UAS’ designed for long-range missions. ”We hope to soon unveil new strategic drones which can fly up to 30,000 feet in altitude and 24 hours of nonstop flight.” Eslami said,noting that Iran is already involved in the production and development of 20 different UAS.
The new aircraft could be unveiled in May this year. Sarkheili also confirmed that a new anti-helicopter weapon system, utilizing a shoulder-launched 20mm missile will also be tested. The new weapon can engage helicopters from a distance of 1,400 meters.
Photo: Iran’s Hazem UAS – for recce, cargo delivery and attack mission
Source: Defense Update