Iran to launch 150 military drones in test of combat capability

Large-scale drills across the country on Wednesday will show off the country's strength, state media reports

A drone during a military exercise in Iran. Reuters

A military unmanned aerial vehicle during a two-day drone drill. AFP

Suicide (kamikaze) drones. AFP

Technicians approach a military unmanned aerial vehicle on a runway. AFP

Technicians inspect a military vehicle in a camouflage enclosure. AFP

Technicians check an aerial vehicle. AFP

Technicians observe an aerial vehicle's performance. AFP

A vertical take-off and landing vehicle. AFP

A military unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land. AFP

The Iranian Army conducted a two-day military drone drill in various part of Iran. EPA

A military drone in full flight. EPA

A drone flies above Iran's skyline. Reuters

Mechanics work on drones ahead of their flight. Reuters

A drone at sunset. Reuters

A drone prepares for takeoff. Reuters

Iran will carry out large-scale drone drills across the country on Wednesday, involving 150 unmanned aerial vehicles, to show off the country's military strength, state media reported.

The accuracy, power, guidance and combat capabilities of the drones will be tested, Iran's deputy co-ordinator of the armed forces Admiral Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying.

"This is the first time that a joint drone exercise is conducted at the level of the four forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran's army and the country's joint air defence base," Admiral Sayyari said.

The reports did not say how long the exercises would last.

The drills will take place "from the warm waters of the Gulf and the Sea of Oman in the south, to the eastern, western, northern and central parts of the country," he said.

"This is only a part of the drone power of Iran's army, which is carrying out operations in various reconnaissance, surveillance and combat missions," the admiral said.

Iran started developing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq.

Its army unveiled its first division of ships and submarines capable of carrying armed drones in July, when US President Joe Biden toured the Middle East.

It released photos of a variety of drones at an underground base in an undisclosed location in Iran in May.

Iran displays drones at secret underground base — in pictures

Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, left, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi, Army Commander-in-Chief, visit an underground drone base at an undisclosed location in Iran. AFP

Iranian state media revealed the existence of a drone base, said to be in the Zagros Mountains, in reports on a visit to the facility by Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri, left, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff. Reuters

The Iranian Army released photos of a wide variety of drones lined up in long tunnels. AFP

Iranian Army drones believed to be held at an underground facility in the Zagros Mountains, a range that runs 1,600 kilometres through Iran, Iraq and Turkey. AFP

An army drone at an underground drone base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground drone base somewhere in Iran. Senior officers in the Iranian military say its drone force gives it regional leadership. AFP

An Iranian military drone is inspected at a secret underground site. Reuters

Iran's unmanned aircraft programme has come up with dozens of kinds of drones since the middle of the 1980s. AFP

Reminders of the Iranian Army's revolutionary heritage are seen at an underground facility when drones are stored. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

Iran's missile development has come along in tandem with programmes to developed military drones. AFP

Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri and Army Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi. AFP

Photos from an underground Iranian military base show development of several drone platforms. AFP

A heavy payload for a drone at a secret underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

Iran introduced the IAIO Fotros surveillance drone late in 2013. AFP

Iran's developing missile technology has been used by Tehran's allies around the Middle East. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. Reuters

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. AFP

An army drone at an underground base somewhere in Iran. Reuters

In May, state television broadcast footage of an airbase for drones under the Zagros mountain range in the west of the country.

The US and Israel, archenemies of Iran, have previously accused Tehran of using drones and missiles to attack US forces and Israel-linked ships in the Gulf.

Washington said in July that Iran plans to deliver "hundreds of drones" to Russia to aid its war on Ukraine, an accusation Tehran dismissed as "baseless".