“Towards Jerusalem”: Iran’s Large-Scale Drone Exercise
The IRGC Aerospace Force flew some 50 “offensive and combat” drones toward a target on a small island in the Persian Gulf. The UAVs have reportedly taken off from bases located as far as 1,000 km away from the operation zone to hit the target
Dr. Shaul Shay
| 17/03/2019
Iran's Saegheh attack drone, modeled after the US-made RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance UAV (Photo: AP)
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) held a massive military drill last Thursday near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, codenamed “Towards Jerusalem 1”. The IRGC flew about 50 “offensive and combat” drones, including the “Saegheh” unmanned combat aerial vehicles based on the RQ-170’s flying wing design, in the Persian Gulf.
The drones allegedly took off from bases between hundreds to more than 1,000 km from the targets on Bani Farur Island, and successfully bombed the targets. It was the first time such a high number of offensive drones participated in a drill.
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division said that Iran has the region’s biggest offensive drone fleet. Much of Iran’s drone development has been driven by the IRGC’s Aerospace division. In November 2018, Hajizadeh said Iran has “the biggest collection of captured or downed American and Israeli drones including the US MQ1, MQ9, Shadow, ScanEagle, and RQ-170 as well as the Israeli regime’s Hermes,” Iran’s Fars news reported. Iranian engineers reportedly used these drones to reverse engineer their own versions.
The drill came as pressure mounts amid re-imposed US sanctions on Iran. Deputy Commander of the IRGC, Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, said the United States’ sanctions against Iran “bore fruit.” He added that “Despite the empty and satanic dreams of the US and other ill-wishers of the Iranian nation, we witnessed tens of modern and advanced domestic RQ-170s and other types of combat drones in flight during a major drill and unique offensive operation.”
In February 2018, Israel intercepted an Iranian drone it launched from a base in Syria. Israel retaliated by bombing a number of Iranian targets in Syria, including the T-4 base where the Iranian drone operator was located. Israel later revealed the Iranian drone was carrying an explosive device but the intended target was unknown.
An April 2018 airstrike, allegedly conducted by Israel, hit the T-4 base again and reportedly targeted Iran’s entire attack drone systems in the country – prompting soaring tensions between Israel and Iran.
Iran’s Drone Project
The Iranian drone program was established during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88). Despite years of sanctions and export restrictions, Iran has managed to develop and manufacture its own drones and possesses a range of surveillance and armed drones. Drones are considered a source of prestige for Iran as a state capable of developing its own modern military capabilities.
The ministry of intelligence and security MOIS, the IRGC, the country’s conventional military forces (known as the Artesh), and the Ministry of Defense, are the main players in Iran’s drone program.
Drones, in general, are deemed to be a “smart, accurate and inexpensive technology.” The acquisition and introduction into service of armed drones led Iran to change its airpower doctrine.
The use of low-cost, low-risk tools such as drones is in line with Iran’s defense doctrine, which priorities asymmetrical warfare. Armed drones are viewed in Iran as a way to compensate for the vulnerabilities of its conventional air force.
Iran primarily deploys surveillance and armed drones in its border areas, including for reconnaissance and target identification, as well as in neighboring countries in which Tehran is militarily involved like Iraq and Syria.
As part of its efforts to become a drone supplier, Iran might have supplied drones to Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas, as well as the regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.
Summary
The proliferation of armed drones throughout the world and the use of drones by militant groups have become commonplace in modern asymmetric warfare between states and non-state armed actors.
Iran has developed a drone arsenal and is considered as a main source of the proliferation of drones in the Middle East. It has transferred reconnaissance and armed drones to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi militia in Yemen.
Iran and its proxies are gaining operational experience and technological lessons on the battlefields of Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, which will be implemented by the Iranian drone industry.
In any future armed conflict in the Middle East, drones will be a significant component of the Iranian arms arsenal as an essential part of Iran and its proxies’ asymmetric warfare.
[Sources: Al Arabiya, The Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post, Jane's Defense Weekly]
The IRGC Aerospace Force flew some 50 “offensive and combat” drones toward a target on a small island in the Persian Gulf. The UAVs have reportedly taken off from bases located as far as 1,000 km away from the operation zone to hit the target
Iran's Saegheh attack drone, modeled after the US-made RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance UAV (Photo: AP)
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) held a massive military drill last Thursday near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, codenamed “Towards Jerusalem 1”. The IRGC flew about 50 “offensive and combat” drones, including the “Saegheh” unmanned combat aerial vehicles based on the RQ-170’s flying wing design, in the Persian Gulf.
The drones allegedly took off from bases between hundreds to more than 1,000 km from the targets on Bani Farur Island, and successfully bombed the targets. It was the first time such a high number of offensive drones participated in a drill.
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division said that Iran has the region’s biggest offensive drone fleet. Much of Iran’s drone development has been driven by the IRGC’s Aerospace division. In November 2018, Hajizadeh said Iran has “the biggest collection of captured or downed American and Israeli drones including the US MQ1, MQ9, Shadow, ScanEagle, and RQ-170 as well as the Israeli regime’s Hermes,” Iran’s Fars news reported. Iranian engineers reportedly used these drones to reverse engineer their own versions.
The drill came as pressure mounts amid re-imposed US sanctions on Iran. Deputy Commander of the IRGC, Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, said the United States’ sanctions against Iran “bore fruit.” He added that “Despite the empty and satanic dreams of the US and other ill-wishers of the Iranian nation, we witnessed tens of modern and advanced domestic RQ-170s and other types of combat drones in flight during a major drill and unique offensive operation.”
In February 2018, Israel intercepted an Iranian drone it launched from a base in Syria. Israel retaliated by bombing a number of Iranian targets in Syria, including the T-4 base where the Iranian drone operator was located. Israel later revealed the Iranian drone was carrying an explosive device but the intended target was unknown.
An April 2018 airstrike, allegedly conducted by Israel, hit the T-4 base again and reportedly targeted Iran’s entire attack drone systems in the country – prompting soaring tensions between Israel and Iran.
Iran’s Drone Project
The Iranian drone program was established during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88). Despite years of sanctions and export restrictions, Iran has managed to develop and manufacture its own drones and possesses a range of surveillance and armed drones. Drones are considered a source of prestige for Iran as a state capable of developing its own modern military capabilities.
The ministry of intelligence and security MOIS, the IRGC, the country’s conventional military forces (known as the Artesh), and the Ministry of Defense, are the main players in Iran’s drone program.
Drones, in general, are deemed to be a “smart, accurate and inexpensive technology.” The acquisition and introduction into service of armed drones led Iran to change its airpower doctrine.
The use of low-cost, low-risk tools such as drones is in line with Iran’s defense doctrine, which priorities asymmetrical warfare. Armed drones are viewed in Iran as a way to compensate for the vulnerabilities of its conventional air force.
Iran primarily deploys surveillance and armed drones in its border areas, including for reconnaissance and target identification, as well as in neighboring countries in which Tehran is militarily involved like Iraq and Syria.
As part of its efforts to become a drone supplier, Iran might have supplied drones to Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas, as well as the regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.
Summary
The proliferation of armed drones throughout the world and the use of drones by militant groups have become commonplace in modern asymmetric warfare between states and non-state armed actors.
Iran has developed a drone arsenal and is considered as a main source of the proliferation of drones in the Middle East. It has transferred reconnaissance and armed drones to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi militia in Yemen.
Iran and its proxies are gaining operational experience and technological lessons on the battlefields of Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, which will be implemented by the Iranian drone industry.
In any future armed conflict in the Middle East, drones will be a significant component of the Iranian arms arsenal as an essential part of Iran and its proxies’ asymmetric warfare.
[Sources: Al Arabiya, The Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post, Jane's Defense Weekly]
