File image.
Iran’s army on October 22 released footage of an underground facility producing Arash one-way attack drones, while state television reported that a new version carries a 100-kilogram warhead.
The footage showed dozens of drones inside the facility during a visit by Army Chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami. Iranian media described the release as the army’s first public video showing its advanced, domestically developed drones and their production.
Hatami said Iran had expanded its drone capabilities beyond the weapons themselves to include the infrastructure and personnel needed to manufacture, maintain and deploy them.
“We have reached a significant level of maturity in the field of drones and unmanned systems in general,” Hatami said, adding that more drones would be unveiled in the future.
Hatami noted that the army’s drone development program began in cooperation with the Defense Ministry and has since expanded into an industrial effort involving universities, researchers and technology companies.
He said a substantial portion of the army’s equipment was now intended for what Iran calls asymmetric warfare, which relies on weapons and tactics designed to challenge a conventionally stronger opponent.
“Today, we are particularly active in the production, distribution and maintenance of these weapons,” Hatami said.
Hatami also acknowledged damage to Iranian military equipment and facilities during recent wars, but said the army had prepared for conflicts in which it would rely on more than conventional weapons.
“Some of the equipment and facilities belonging to us were damaged in the recent wars, but the enemy thought that we did not distinguish between conventional and asymmetric warfare,” he said.
The announcement comes as Iran continues to emphasize its ability to sustain domestic weapons production and prepare for future confrontations.
The footage offered a rare look inside Iran’s underground drone program, although the army did not disclose the facility’s location or its production capacity.
The older Arash-2 is a one-way attack drone designed for long-range strikes. It is reported to have a range of up to 2,000 kilometers.
The newly shown model appears to be a separate version of the Arash family. Its reported 100-kilogram warhead would represent a substantial increase over the specifications commonly published for the older model.
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