Iran’s deputy defense minister said the country has reached self-sufficiency in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as he hails military ties with Russia as a strategic partner.
Afshin Khajeh-Fard, who also heads Iran Aviation Industries Organization, made the remarks on Thursday while talking to IRNA at Iran’s pavilion in Russia’s international aerospace exhibition, officially known as the International Aviation and Space Salon or MAKS 2021.
“We have made great progress in the area of [manufacturing] drones and we owe these advances to more than four decades of incessant work and indefatigable efforts by our youths,” he said.
“Today, we are self-sufficient in building drones from their fuselage to various subsystems and engines,” the Iranian official added.
Khajeh-Fard said, “We have broken considerable grounds with regard to UAV flight ceiling, their precision, automatic takeoff and landing, as well as nocturnal missions.”
The Iranian deputy defense minister said the country has displayed only two of its UAV models at this year’s MAKS exhibition, but noted that “our UAV inventory is full with all versions and we have competitive products.”
In response to IRNA’s question about Iran’s technical and military relations with Russia, Khajeh-Fard said, “We regard Russia as a strategic partner. Our cooperation has taken a very good turn in various aspects.”
The Iranian official added, “We have a long history of cooperation with Russia in the aviation industry and we will definitely expand this cooperation. To that end, we have good strategies and plans on the agenda.”
