TEHRAN – Iran has achieved a pivotal milestone with the successful integration of home-grown Karrar drones, equipped with air-to-air Majid missiles, into its Army's Air Defense Force.

The unveiling ceremony for these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) took place at the Khatam Al-Anbia Air Defense Academy in Tehran on Sunday, attended by a distinguished group of military commanders and officials.

Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army, led the event and emphasized that this development represents "another stage [in the process] of upgrading the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force." He highlighted the groundbreaking nature of this advancement, underscoring its significance for the nation's defense capabilities.

Addressing the attendees, Major General Mousavi acknowledged the collaboration between the Iranian Army's scientists and the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade, as well as knowledge-based cores. He emphasized that strengthening defense capabilities across land, sea, and air borders is a fundamental principle for the Army.

During the ceremony, Major General Mousavi also took the opportunity to address the resilience of Gaza against the unjust actions of the Zionist regime, emphasizing the need to strengthen various components of national power to counter external threats.

Speaking at the ceremony, Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, the Commander of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force, also described the Karrar drone as "a great achievement made by our country’s youth." Proudly announcing the successful deployment of these guided drones in multiple air defense regions, he highlighted their demonstrated effectiveness in recent exercises. 

General Sabahifard underscored the Army's strategic focus on enhancing drone capabilities. He emphasized the economic advantage of unmanned aircraft, stating that they are incomparable to manned ones in terms of price. The commander highlighted the Karrar drones’ ability to perform operations equivalent to manned aircraft at a much lower cost.

The Karrar drones, armed with Majid missiles, have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in tracking, interception, and the destruction of hostile aircraft. 

Remarkably, these capabilities come at a substantially lower cost compared to traditional manned fighter planes. These drones showcased their operational prowess during a large-scale drone drill conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army in October.

In recent years, Iranian military experts and engineers have achieved notable breakthroughs in manufacturing a wide range of indigenous equipment, rendering the armed forces self-sufficient. The consensus among military experts is that Iran has emerged as a major drone power, surpassing even some of the world's leading nations in this domain.

MAS