{"id":34036,"date":"2023-12-11T04:54:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T04:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/iran-unveils-drones-armed-with-air-to-air-missiles-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-11T04:54:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T04:54:06","slug":"iran-unveils-drones-armed-with-air-to-air-missiles-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/iran-unveils-drones-armed-with-air-to-air-missiles-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran unveils drones armed with air-to-air missiles | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Iran has reinforced its air defence capabilities by adding combat drones equipped with air-to-air missiles to its arsenal, state media reported on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“Dozens of Karrar drones armed with air-to-air missiles have been added for air defence in all border areas of the country,” the official IRNA news agency said.<\/p>\n

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When equipped with the Majid missile, the Karrar drone is capable of targeting aerial threats up to a distance of 8 kilometers. The drone boasts a maximum flight altitude of 43,000 feet and can operate within a range of 400 kilometers. pic.twitter.com\/rn5lFmvKqJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) December 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The drones, with an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), were exhibited Sunday morning during a televised ceremony organised at a military academy in Tehran.<\/p>\n

“The enemies will now have to rethink their strategies” because the Iranian forces have “become more powerful”, IRNA quoted the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, as saying.<\/p>\n

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Iranian homemade Karrar drones were exhibited during a televised ceremony organised at a military academy in Tehran. PHOTO: X\/ @IrnaEnglish<\/p>\n

The Karrar interceptor drone, the first version of which was unveiled in 2010, has been equipped with a “Majid” thermal missile with a range of eight kilometres (five miles) “made entirely in Iran”, added the agency.<\/p>\n

It “succeeded in its operational tests” during military exercises held in October, Mousavi said.<\/p>\n

Read also:\u00a0Iran finalises deal to buy Russian fighter jets \u2013 Tasnim<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The development of Iran’s military arsenal has sparked concern among many countries, particularly the United States and Israel, the sworn enemies of the Islamic republic.<\/p>\n

The latter accuse Tehran of providing fleets of drones to its allies in the Middle East, notably to Lebanese group Hezbollah, and to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.<\/p>\n

Iran also backs the Palestinian group Hamas, which has been engaged in a war with Israel since it launched deadly attacks there on October 7.<\/p>\n

Tehran has been accused by Kyiv and its Western allies of providing Russia with drones for use in the Ukraine war, a claim Tehran denies.<\/p>\n

Western governments, however, imposed several rounds of biting sanctions on Iran over the alleged arms sales.<\/p>\n

Iran began manufacturing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n