Iran unveils its biggest home-made drone

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran on Monday, Nov 18, unveiled a new type of home-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with modern strategic capabilities, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The new drone, Fotros, is the country’s biggest unmanned strategic plane built by the Defense Ministry's Air Industries and can fly for more than 2,000km non-stop. Fotros was unveiled in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan in Tehran.

In September 2012, Iran announced that it has started using UAVs for its air defense units as part of its broader plans for strengthening the country's air defense capability.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the National Day of Air Defense here in Tehran last year, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said Iran has equipped its air defense units with Haazem drones. Haazem is a drone designed and manufactured by Iranian air defense experts in three short, mid and long range models and for air defense missions.

The drone can be used as a target for air defense systems and also for reconnaissance missions. The UAV can also be equipped with missiles and used for aerial bombardments as well.