IRGC Tests New Suicide Drone with Extended Range
Date
4/10/2023 5:01:26 AM
(MENAFN) The Islamic revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully test-launched a new homegrown suicide drone that can hit targets at a range of 450 kilometers. The drone, called “Me’raj-532”, was developed by the IRGC Ground Force and is equipped with a piston engine. General Ali Kouhestani, the head of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the IRGC Ground Force, announced the test launch and highlighted the drone's features.
According to General Kouhestani, Me’raj-532 can travel a distance of 450 kilometers in a one-way mission and hit targets with high accuracy using a warhead weighing 50 kilograms. The drone can take off from a vehicle, has a service ceiling of 12,000 feet, and can stay aloft up to 3 hours. Additionally, the drone can be assembled and prepared for flight easily and rapidly, making it a suitable option for rapid reaction.
The successful test of Me’raj-532 is part of the IRGC's ongoing efforts to develop new combat, training, and suicide drones for various missions carried out by its ground force units. General Kouhestani's announcement underscores Iran's continued investment in developing its military capabilities and its focus on self-reliance and self-sufficiency in defense technology.
However, the development of advanced drones by Iran has raised concerns among its regional rivals and the international community, particularly as Tehran has been accused of supporting armed groups in the region. The use of drones in recent conflicts has also led to concerns over the potential for unmanned systems to destabilize regional security and increase the risk of escalation.
As Iran's development of drone technology continues, it remains to be seen how its neighbors and the wider international community will respond to these new capabilities and the potential threat they pose to regional stability.
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