Navy to Unveil Attack Helicopters, Drones

Date: 23 November 2022 - 21:37

News ID: ۱۰۹۳۵۶

TEHRAN -- Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says his force will soon unveil new homegrown naval attack helicopters and long-range drones, stating the major military achievements will join the country’s naval fleet in the near future.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference here, Irani stated that the helicopters will be of great assistance in carrying out maritime operations and will be used for escorting vessels.
He added that the advanced unmanned aerial vehicles will also enable the Iranian Navy’s offshore units to cover areas within an operational radius of at least 2,000 kilometers.
Irani said Iranian naval units are now present in the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Pacific Ocean, and are safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by the Islamic Republic during their missions in international waters.
The top commander emphasized that the Iranian Navy enjoys the capability to fly hundreds of drones at once to carry out various missions.
“In the next few months, we plan to conduct joint exercises in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean with the participation of countries with which we have signed bilateral or multilateral agreements,” he said.
Back in mid-July, Iran’s Navy upgraded its force by incorporating a special division tasked with transporting and operating various drones.
The first drone carrier division of Iran’s Navy, which is comprised of different surface and subsurface units, was unveiled in a ceremony in the international waters of the Indian Ocean.
The division is capable of carrying various combat, surveillance, and suicide drones and has joined the country’s southern fleet.
Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.
Iranian officials have repeatedly
underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities, decrying enemies for questioning the country’s missile program.