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Iran presented the latest version of its kamikaze drone at a military parade in Tehran on September 21. State broadcaster IRIB reported that the Shahed 136-B drone has a range of 4,000 kilometers. Iran claims to have made great strides in the production of drones in recent years.
They are said to play a central role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though Tehran categorically rejects accusations it is supplying Moscow with weapons for its unprovoked aggression.
Iran has paraded an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles at the start of its Sacred Defense Week which also marked the unveiling of a new kamikaze drone with a range of more than 4,000 km.Â
“23 ballistic missiles were displayed Saturday, which included 2 Kheibar Shekan missiles, 2 Fatah missiles, 4 Haj Qasem missiles, 2 Qadr H missiles, 2 Emad missiles, 3 Khorramshahr missiles, 4 Sejil missiles and 4 Jihad missiles,” Tasnim news agency reported.
The Jihad is the latest liquid fuel ballistic missile of the IRGC Aerospace Force, which was displayed for the first time in the parade. With a high-explosive detachable warhead, it has a range of 1000 km, it added.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps also paraded the Shahed-136B, the latest version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone, for the first time.
The new military products were showcased at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, in southern Tehran. The parades were staged to mark the beginning of former Iraqi dictator Saddan Hussein’s invasion of Iran 44 years ago.
The Shahed-136 is a delta-wing shaped, low-observable and low-signature loitering munition with a range of 2,000 kilometers that carries a warhead of 50 kilograms.
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses an Iranian-made piston engine and has a speed of about 200 km/h.
Other indigenous products put on display in the parade included Kheibar Shekan and Sejjil Iranian solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missiles, Emad liquid-fuel and medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile, Haj Qasem ballistic missile as well as Fattah hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile.
Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and expand Iran’s defense capabilities.
PRESS TV