Good thing they’re moderates now. They’ll probably just use it to drop love notes and apologies for all their genocidal antisemitic rhetoric.
“Iran unveils drone that can cover most of the Middle East — including Israel,” from the Sunday World, November 18:
Iran unveiled a new aircraft today that it says is the biggest drone yet to be developed in the Islamic Republic, capable of staying aloft for up to 30 hours.
Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said the reconnaissance and combat drone Fotros has a range of 1,250 miles, which would cover much of the Middle East, including Israel. The earlier Shahed-129 (Witness-129) drone is reported to have a similar range, but can only stay aloft 24 hours.
“This drone is able to carry out reconnaissance missions and carry air-to-surface rockets for combat operations,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Dehghan as saying.
Dehghan said scientists at Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, affiliated to Iran’s Defence Ministry, have designed and developed the drone. He said the country has achieved self-sufficiency in building drones, but didn’t elaborate.
Iran has pursued a military self-sufficiency programme since the 1980s, and frequently announces technological breakthroughs -including the building of jet fighters, tanks, missile, submarines, torpedoes and drones. Most cannot be independently confirmed.
He said the new drone is a key strategic addition to Iran’s military capabilities, and was developed despite tough sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program….