Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.14
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran will test missile and rocket-equipped drones in its next military drills, Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force's Drone Group Colonel Reza Khaki said.
"The ground force's drone capacity needs to be improved. We have obtained higher technology on drones and we will equip the ground force's drones with missile and rocket in upcoming drills," Iran's Fars news agency reported April 14.
He said Iran is capable of arming old drones with missiles and rockets and build new drones capable of carrying missiles and rockets.
Khaki noted that Raad 85 (Thunder 85) drone is similar to a small cruise missile which precisely hits targets with its powerful warhead.
In Sept. 2014, Iran unveiled a new missile-equipped drone to boost its military arsenal.
Iranian engineers working for the armed forces have "built the drones to carry air defense missiles", deputy defense minister General Amir Hatami earlier said.
"These new drones are capable of destroying different types of aircraft, including fighters, drones and helicopters," he added.
Iranian media outlets report that Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems in recent years.
Iran has manufactured its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes since 1992.