Iran to unveil radar-evading drone in April

A senior Iranian commander says the Islamic Republic will unveil an indigenous radar-evading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in April.

Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said Saturday that the drone, named Hazem, will be unveiled on April 18 on the National Army Day.

Esmaili said the UAV is stealth, enjoys high maneuvering capabilities, and can be used in reconnaissance missions.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iran unveiled its first indigenous long-range drone, Karrar, in August 2010. The aircraft is capable of carrying a military payload of rockets to carry out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a high speed, and gathering information.

In September 2012, the country also unveiled a new indigenous UAV, Shahed 129, with a 24-hour nonstop flight capability.

In December, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said Iran had also launched a production line for the manufacture of ScanEagle-type drones.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad Eslami said on Wednesday that the country will unveil its latest long-range drone in May.

Tehran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.