In recent days, the Iranian military has undertaken an extensive joint exercise with the Revolutionary Guards, focusing on the deployment and operation of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The highlight of this exercise has been the unprecedented launch of advanced unmanned aircraft models.

The Fars News Agency reported that this exercise, which commenced on Tuesday and spanned two days, witnessed the Iranian military launching an astounding 200 suicide drones. These drones effectively neutralized 54 targets on both land and at sea. Beyond their destructive capabilities, these drones were also deployed for surveillance and control operations along Iran's borders.

Footage shows the Iranian-made drone Ababil-5 tracking a US destroyer in the Persian Gulf during Iran's ongoing large-scale drone drill.

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Brigadier General Ali Reza Sheikh, the spokesperson for this joint drone exercise, disclosed that 12 distinct types of drones participated in this exercise. During an interview with the Khabar channel on Iranian television, General Sheikh remarked, "Yesterday, we witnessed an impressive demonstration of the Ababil drone 5, designed for border patrol and target interception and destruction, working in conjunction with the army's electronic warfare capabilities."

Today, on its final day, the exercise will primarily focus on operating drones specially designed to breach defense barriers and tackle electronic warfare systems designed to thwart them. These drones will launch from various locations within Iran and converge at a designated point and time. General Sheikh emphasized the importance of testing their drones and aircraft in the challenging electronic warfare environment that characterizes modern battlefields.

⚡️🇮🇷| Iran to hold a drone military drill

Iranian military will use 200 drones to test reconnaissance, combat capabilities & maintain readiness of forces in different weather types. pic.twitter.com/TwZ8zBYvGv

— 𝐄𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐝 (@Safarnejad_IR) October 2, 2023

As part of the recent advancements in aviation technology, the Iranians introduced a new drone called "Arash," notable for its extended flight range and capacity to carry substantial explosives. The Iranian military also released photographs as part of this exercise, showcasing the deployment of drones for monitoring American warships in the northern Indian Ocean. The combination of these aircraft, capable of carrying significant payloads and covering vast distances, should indeed raise concerns in Washington. Intercepting a simultaneous flight of numerous such drones is a formidable challenge.

#BREAKING: Iran's 🇮🇷 military announces extensive drone exercises in the central and southern regions of the country. Troops from four Army branches—Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force—will participate in this drill. pic.twitter.com/2v51dNFMqa

— Delta Defence (@delta_defence) October 2, 2023

This news comes in the wake of reports earlier this week indicating that Iran and Russia have struck a new arms deal. Under this agreement, Hezbollah, Iran's proxy terrorist organization in Lebanon, will transfer its outdated weaponry to local Arab tribes in Syria and the Russian army. In return, Hezbollah will receive new weapons from Tehran, including drones similar to those showcased in this military exercise.