Iran is emerging as a world leader in the production of cheap and deadly drones, according to US officials, who say Tehran is using the war in Ukraine as a showcase for its technologies.
Analysts at the Defense Intelligence Agency have described how Iran has gone from being a regional drone player in the Middle East to being Moscow’s most important military backer in the war.
Identical important features
Countering denials by Iran’s foreign ministry that its drones had been used in deadly attacks in Ukraine, including on civilian energy infrastructure, officials shared declassified information proving that Iranian drones used in attacks in the Middle East – including one undertaken by Iran – were identical in all important features to the drones used in Ukraine.
More broadly, the officials outlined how Iran’s drone use had grown rapidly since 2014, when its drones were used in much more limited attacks on targets.
Tehran was quickly amassing expertise for its drone development program from their use in Ukraine, and was likely learning valuable lessons for improving its drones.
While the US and the UK have imposed sanctions on Iran’s supply of drones to Russia, they are seeking wider support for them in the international community.
Underscoring growing concerns, recent reports from Iran suggest that Tehran believes there is a significant market for its drones, including in China.
Customers are waiting in the “queue”!
An adviser to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, highlighted the country’s high capability in producing various types of drones and said that 90 countries are seeking to acquire Tehran-made drones. “Our power has grown to levels where China is waiting in line to buy 15,000 of our drones,” he said.
In late December 2022, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, confirmed that Iran will continue its plans to strengthen its drone capabilities and will cooperate with other countries in the drone industry to meet its needs country.
The Supreme Commander emphasized that Iran is among the top five powers in the world in drone manufacturing, adding that Iranian drones can perform various tasks with high precision and fly for long periods. He argued that the Islamic Republic’s military doctrine stipulates that the country’s armed capability is only defensive.
In recent years, Tehran has made great progress in developing surveillance and combat drones. Iranian military officials said Iran is among the best in the world at manufacturing drones.
Military officials say Tehran is self-sufficient in drone manufacturing, from its fuselage to various subsystems and engines, adding that the country’s armed forces are equipped and ready to carry out all kinds of drone operations and missions.
Violation of UN resolutions
Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that Iran will not hesitate to enhance its military capabilities, including its missile force and unmanned aerial vehicles, which are solely dedicated to defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiation. .
Finally, the UK presented evidence to the UN that Iran was supplying advanced weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, in violation of UN resolutions.
This came after British personnel found images of tests carried out at the Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Tehran on the hard drive of a drone seized by the Royal Navy. Personnel from the British ship HMS Montrose seized the unmanned quadcopter along with a cargo of missiles and missile components last February.
The weapons and other evidence presented to the UN linked Iran to violations of Security Council resolutions banning arms shipments.
