Iran unveils new stealth fighter drone for bombing and reconnaissance

Telegraph

04-03-2025

Iran has unveiled a new miniature jet-powered stealth fighter drone that it says can carry out bombing and reconnaissance missions.
Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 's (IRGC) naval wing, said: 'With its high speed, the JAS 313 can efficiently carry out its missions,'
He introduced it during a ceremony onboard the Shahid Bagheri, the Iranian navy's drone carrier.
Footage showed the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which resembles a smaller version of a conventional fighter jet, dwarfed by the carrier's runway as it took off for flight tests.
According to Mr Tangsiri, the drone was designed specifically for taking off from such runways and is expected to be fully operational soon.
'[The] JAS drone performs both reconnaissance and bombing missions for the IRGC Navy,' he said.
However, some Iranian social media users mocked the tiny aircraft, with one saying, 'you could find a cheaper and more efficient one on Amazon'.
Last week the US imposed sanctions on entities in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland that were accused of facilitating Tehran's acquisition of parts for its drone programmes.
Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, said: 'Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers.'
Iran has invested heavily in its drone development in recent years and 1,000 new UAVs were delivered to the army in January.
Iranian drones have been used across the region in Syria and Yemen, and Russia has made heavy use of Iranian-developed Shahed attack drones to bombard Ukrainian cities.
Last month, a drone launched by Russia struck the protective shell covering the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Ukrainian media released images of the UAV's engine, which appeared to be from a Shahed.
Iran is bracing for more showdowns with Israel and the United States, particularly following Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign on Tehran.