Iran among world’s top three drone powers: Commander

 

A drone is launched by Iran’s Army Ground Force during ‘Authority 1401’ military drills on September 9, 2022. (Photo by Fars News Agency)

Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Major General Gholam-Ali Rashid has lauded the Islamic Republic’s outstanding drone power.

The Iranian commander also underscored what he labeled a significant leap in the ways of confronting outside threats to the country.

General Rashid was speaking on the sidelines of his visit on Friday to an exhibition in Isfahan province, where the latest achievements of the Army Ground Force are displayed.

“Iran is now undoubtedly among the world's top three drone powers,” he said.

“Focusing on the field of drones should not prevent us from operational planning and progress in the area of ground combat since a powerful ground force is essential to the armed forces in the face of threats.”

The Army Ground Force started two-day ‘Authority 1401’ exercises in the central Iranian province on Wednesday.

An invaluable point that needs to be taken into consideration is the limited time between receiving an order and manufacturing the desired product, the commander said, referring to the achievements of the Ground Force demonstrated in the exhibition. “This shows the considerable pace of the Army Ground Force in obtaining advanced technologies and using them to confront future threats.”

Iran’s achievements in ground combat, he said, have been made under the harshest sanctions. “The Army Ground Force’s might has grown. It is now well-equipped, disciplined, integrated, ready, and capable of suppressing any aggressor.”

Enemies monitor the features of our Ground Force to evaluate the Iranian combat power, he said. By boosting its combat power, the Ground Force creates deterrence, General Rashid added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian commander said the Islamic Republic’s Army and Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are among the most sophisticated armed forces in the world due in large part to the eight years of ‘Sacred Defense’ against the Saddam regime as well as the fight against Takfiri terrorist groups in the region.

“Thank God, a significant leap has been made today in the area of confronting threats and this path of growth and evolution should be continued.”

Pointing to the improved missile power of the Army Ground Force in recent years, the commander said the missiles are capable of striking targets from long distance with pinpoint accuracy.

The Army’s Ground Force successfully test-fired domestically-developed surface-to-surface missile ‘Fath’ (Conquest) 360 during recent military drills. Army officials say the missile can hit strategic targets at the speed of 3,704 kilometers per hour, and its velocity can be increased to 5,000 while communicating with satellites for quick navigation and fast strikes against enemy targets.

General Karim Cheshak, spokesman for the drills, said the maneuvers involve infantry, armored, artillery, air force, drone, engineering, airborne and electronic warfare units.

Iran has always made it clear that it will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that its defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.