Iran to unveil new recce, combat drone: Defense minister

Iran Press TV

Mon May 6, 2013 7:43AM GMT

Iran's defense minister says the country plans to unveil a new indigenous reconnaissance and combat drone, dubbed Hamaseh, in the coming days.

Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Monday that several other achievements in the defense sector, including maritime and missile equipment, are also set to be unveiled.

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

Iran unveiled its first indigenous long-range drone, Karrar, in August 2010. The aircraft is capable of carrying out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a high speed, and gathering information.

In September 2012, the country also unveiled a new homemade unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Shahed 129, with a 24-hour nonstop flight capability.

Describing the recent Israeli aggression against Syria as a "dangerous game," Vahidi added that Damascus has the right to respond, and can give a crushing response to Tel Aviv.

"In such a scenario, we must expect important developments in the region… The Zionist regime cannot escape this adventurism easily," the Iranian defense minister added.

The Syrian state television reported on Sunday that Israel had attacked the Jamraya Research Center, located northwest of Damascus. The center had been targeted by another Israeli airstrike back in January.

The Israeli aggression "is aimed at loosening the noose around the terrorists" in the eastern Ghouta region, near Damascus, the state television added.

Sunday's aggression came shortly after Tel Aviv confirmed on Friday that its warplanes had hit a "game-changing" target in Syria.

MYA/NN/HMV