صراط عشق صراط عشق
Iran on Monday unveiled a number of new drones and homegrown missile systems in a military parade marking the National Army Day.
Four divisions of the Iranian Army, namely the Ground Force, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Air Defense, held military parades in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi.
One of the major achievements put on display during the parade was the new generation of Ababil drones, named Ababil-5.
The new design of the drone’s nosecone suggests improved aerodynamic efficiency and reduced radar cross-section.
At least three Ababil-5 drones were displayed in the event, one equipped with 4 Almas (diamond) missiles, another one carrying three Qaem bombs, and the third one armed with a heavy Qaem-class bomb.
A new suicide drone also joined the Army’s fleet of UAVs. The homegrown aircraft, probably called Omid (hope), is comparable to the occupying regime of Israel’s Harop drone. The delta-wing Iranian drone is propelled by a powerful piston engine.
Omid, which has joined the club of Iranian suicide drones such as Arash, Kian and Karrar, could be flown from both ground and offshore launchers.
The Army also unveiled three missile systems in the event.
One of them was Fat’h-360 ground-to-ground missile system, adapted to fire Naze’at rockets.
The missile weighs 790 kg and can carry a 150-kg warhead with a velocity of Mach 4 at a distance of 120 km.
Another missile system displayed on Monday was the tactical version of Sayyad, comprised of radar and missile launchers at the same time. This feature increases the mobility and combat survivability of tactical Sayyad.
The third product loaded on trucks in the ceremony was Dezful air defense system, known as the Iranian version of Russian-made Tor-M1.
Mounted on a rolling chassis, the Dezful air defense system has been provided to the Army Air Defense and the IRGC Aerospace Force.
Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s new combat drone, Gaza, successfully passed flight tests.
The super heavy combat drone, unveiled last May, has a 21-meter wingspan and a 3,100-kilogram takeoff mass, and is capable of carrying a payload of 500 kg.
The flight duration of the Gaza drone is 35 hours. It can soar to an altitude of about 10,668 meters, equivalent to 35,000 feet, and has a flight speed of 350 km per hour.
“Operational tests of this drone have been conducted, it is fully operational, and can be used in a variety of reconnaissance and combat missions,” the Tasnim news agency reported.
In addition to military and defense applications, the Gaza drone can also carry out missions in monitoring forests, rescue operations and providing assistance in natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
The parade on Monday featured the latest radar and missile systems, as well as drones, tanks and other domestic military hardware.
Army combat and armored units, airborne helicopters, air force fighters, air defense weapons, defense systems and naval equipment mounted on military trucks marched in front of a stand, from where top government and military officials observed the parade.
President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran’s armed forces are monitoring Israel, warning that they will target the occupying regime’s “center” if it makes the slightest move against the Iranian nation.
“The message to the Zionist regime is that if you seek to normalize relations with the countries of the region, you should know that your slightest move is not hidden from the eyes of our armed forces and our intelligence and security forces,” the president said.
“Just know that if the slightest move on your part occurs against our nation, our armed forces will target the center of the Zionist regime, and the power of our armed forces will not leave you at rest,” he added.
He issued the warning during a parade held in front of the mausoleum of Imam Khomeinei, the founding father of the Islamic Republic, outside Tehran to mark Iran’s Army Day.
President Raeisi said the armed forces of the Islamic Republic have many capabilities, the most central of which is their sincere and devout members who are ready to face danger for the sake of the country.
“Today, our military capabilities are well-known not only in the region but also in the world,” the president said, stressing that the most important component of power in Iran is the country’s revolutionary people.
“The Army is in the hearts of the people, and under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, it is ready to carry out missions, and this readiness is a great achievement for our country.”
Raisi said the Army took advantage of the most draconian sanctions on Iran to empower itself.
“Today, our military industry is in the best condition, so we must use it in other industries of the country,” he said.
“What the White House spokesman told the world was that they have suffered a disgraceful defeat in their sanctions and maximum pressure on Iran, and that this is the fate of those who want to fall out with the Islamic system,” the president added.
In January, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price stated that the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, initiated by the Trump administration and maintained by the Biden administration, has been an “abject failure”.
Iran makes a show of military force on Iran Army Day with parades every April 18. The country often demonstrates new defense technologies on the day. Army veterans, active servicemen and reservists take part in the annually held parade.
“The message of the prowess, power, strength and endurance of the Iranian armed forces to all the deprived and oppressed of the world is that today our armed forces are their source of hope, because supporting the world’s oppressed is one of the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy,” Raisi said.
