Iran unveiled a drone last week designed to loiter over a target area until launching an attack, a weapon similar to the Russian uncrewed aerial vehicle used in Ukraine.
The Islamic Republic News Agency said the new drone is designed for counterambush operations and is expected to increase the combat capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“The Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is said to bear similarities to the Russian-built ZALA Lancet kamikaze drone,” IRNA said.
The ZALA Lancet was unveiled in June 2019. It can be used for reconnaissance and strike missions, armed with high explosive or fragmentation warheads.
“Loitering munitions enable faster reaction times against hidden targets that emerge for short periods without placing high-value platforms near the target area,” IRNA said. “It also allows more selective targeting, as the attack can be changed midflight or aborted.”
Iran has become a significant producer of combat drones in recent years and has shipped a number of them to Russia for its war against Ukraine.