Iran’s army has taken delivery of 1,000 new long range drones, likely to guard against any future conflict with Israel.
The drones would increase “the army's long-range strike power against distant targets”, state-linked Tasnim news agency said. Iran said that the drones had a range of 2,000km and included Arash drones, which have been used in attacks against Israel.
In April, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, low flying cruise missiles and drones against targets in Israel, almost all of which were shot down by a quickly assembled coalition including the US, Britain and France. The cost of intercepting the huge attack was put at about $1 billion and in some cases US F-15s involved in the operation ran out of missiles going after drones, shooting them down at close range with autocannons.
Israel retaliated, prompting a second major attack in October, and large-scale Israeli air raids against air defences and military sites.
Army commander Maj Gen Abdolrahim Mousavi announced the drone acquisition, alongside Defence Minister Brig Gen Aziz Nasirzadeh, on Sunday.
Iran already has one of the world’s largest drone arsenals, and has supplied a variety of domestically designed and produced drones to the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Iran has also supplied its drone technology to Russia, which mass produces the weapons for its war in Ukraine at the Alabuga special economic zone.
Tasnim said the drones have the “capacity for sustained, autonomous flight without a need for external control.” Iranian drones such as the Shahed 136 can reach targets on complex preprogrammed routes, causing problems for air defence units which are forced to spread out over vast areas. They fly “nap-of-the-earth,” at very low altitude to avoid radar beams, which can be obstructed in hills and valleys.
To do this, they use satellite navigation, but weak signals from the US GPS system or Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system can easily be jammed or “spoofed”, to trick receivers on drones into changing course.
Israel has disrupted satellite communications during security threats to thwart drone attacks. The drones have a backup inertial navigation system, which calculates the position of the drone based on internal measurements of altitude, bearing and speed, but this is said to be inaccurate, according to Ukrainian defence analyst Oleh Katkov, especially over longer distances.
Newer drones such as the jet-powered Shahed 238 also feature inertial navigation systems. According to Conflict Armament Research, an NGO which has studied wreckage of Iranian drones, and the Institute for Science and International Security, a think tank, their navigation systems rely almost entirely on smuggled Western microelectronics.
Iran said the drones were stealthy due to their “small radar cross section”, a feature of the relatively small weapons which are often not detected at long range.
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Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
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- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs
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Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
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On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Famous left-handers
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Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
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Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.