Iran’s IRGC unveils new combat drone

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has unveiled the recently-manufactured combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called Saeqeh (thunderbolt).

The drone was put on show on Saturday at an expo showcasing the latest achievements by the IRGC’s Aerospace Division in the UAV industry.

Saeqeh is a long-range drone capable of carrying four smart and precision-guided bombs. It can strike targets with high precision.

It is one of the Simorgh class drones, which is the Iranian version of the US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft.

Iran downed a US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft with minimal damage. The drone was flying over the Iranian city of Kashmar, near the Afghan border, when it was brought down.

Almost three years later, the Islamic Republic produced its version of the RQ-170 drone.

Commenting on the latest achievements by the IRGC forces, Commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said that Iran is among the top four countries in the world in the drone industry.

Hajizadeh further said that the US is seeking to equal Iran in the production of stealth drones and bombers.

Reflecting on Saeqeh, the commander said that it is the latest Iranian UAV and is capable of hitting targets and returning to base intact.

He further noted that Iran will not halt its development of drones, saying, “The enemy is continuing down the path of hostility, and we should continue our course for reinforcing our might for defense against the enemy.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Hajizadeh said that today Iran has better aviation systems and equipment than the US and expressed hope that one day Iran will have the same might in the UAV industry as in the missile sector.

In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

Iran has also conducted military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and to test modern military tactics and state-of-the-art army equipment.

The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.