Iran's Drone Power; Illusions and Questionable Achievements (Part One)

The aim of this series of writings is an attempt to assess the capabilities of the Islamic Republic in the field of drones, to dismiss exaggerated achievements claimed by commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and officials of the Ministry of Defense, and ultimately to compare this capability against the backdrop of regional and broader realities. In the first section, the claimed rankings of drone capabilities, questionable achievements, and the procurement of some parts and supplies from abroad for drone production are examined. The history of using unmanned aerial vehicles in Iran dates back to before the 1979 revolution. In the Imperial Army, these aircraft were used as targets to test the efficiency of surface-to-air missiles and naval artillery, as well as air-to-air missiles of the Air Force's fighter jets. However, after the revolution and in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, unmanned aerial vehicles were first used, in a rudimentary way, for reconnaissance missions, filming enemy positions, and gathering intelligence. After the war, extensive activities began for the design and construction of unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones, short for remotely piloted aircraft) in the defense industries and several universities across the country, which continue to this day. Currently, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) and Quds Aviation Industries are among the most important centers for the design and production of drones. The names of the most important drones produced by the Islamic Republic so far include: Ababil (types B, S, and T); Saegheh (1, 2); Talash (1, 2); Mohajer (1, 2, 3, 4); Toofan; Baz; Chabokpar; Tizpar; Sahand; Toofan; Hazem; Zahak; Sofreh Mahi; Karrar; Sarir; Hamaaseh; Shahid 129; and Fotros. In general, Iranian-made drones can be divided into three categories: short-range and low-altitude drones (such as Talash 1, which is special for training drone pilots); medium-range and altitude drones (such as Mohajer 2, 3 with an altitude ceiling of up to 12,000 feet, special for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance); and finally, long-range and high-altitude drones (such as the armed Shahid 129 drone with a range of 1,700 kilometers, altitude ceiling of 25,000 feet, and endurance of 24 hours). Three years ago, the Revolutionary Guards announced the capture of an American drone model 'RQ-170' in Iranian airspace. Recently, the Revolutionary Guards announced that the country's specialists have succeeded in producing an Iranian version of the mentioned drone through reverse engineering. Footage of this drone's flight was broadcast on November 21, 2014, by the Islamic Republic's television. Over the past three years, commanders of the Revolutionary Guards, officials of the Ministry of Defense, and military industries of the country, as well as the media of the Islamic Republic, have given various and contradictory rankings to Iran in explaining the country's achievements in the field of drones. Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated in December 2011: 'Iran is the second country [in the world] in the field of drone technology.' Mohammad Islami, the deputy minister of defense for research and industrial affairs, in February 2013, gave a new ranking to Iran and emphasized: 'The Islamic Republic is among the top 10 countries in the world in military fields and among the top five in drone technology.' In the same month, Abolfazl Talebi, an aerospace expert and member of the board of the Society of Flight Specialists, stated in an interview with Radio Iran: 'Iran ranks first in the region in the construction and design of drones.' Nine months later, on November 18, 2013, the Islamic Republic News Network website stated: 'The Islamic Republic ranks first in the region and fourth in the world in the field of drones and also in drone science, which is essentially the science of electronic warfare, and ... [also] the aerospace technology, which is among the top technologies.' In this context, in May 2014, the Mashregh newspaper reported: 'Iran is the third manufacturer of missile-equipped drones in the world.' On December 10, 2014, the Fars News Agency also quoted Hossein Salami as saying: 'Our drones can cover 3,000 kilometers with stealth technology and capture images from their field of view and transmit that information in real-time.' Of course, these claimed rankings are not limited to Iran's drone power. Hossein Dehghan, the Minister of Defense, recently said: 'The Islamic Republic is the fourth missile power in the world after the USA, Russia, and China.' Exaggeration and questionable achievements undoubtedly, Iran has made tangible progress in the field of drone manufacturing, but the excessive desire of defense officials and Revolutionary Guards commanders to exaggerate and, in some cases, make questionable claims about weapons that have not yet reached the production stage or have not been operational, makes it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion and to determine the actual achievements of the Islamic Republic. Our knowledge of Iran's drone capabilities is based on information released by media controlled by the Islamic Republic, which usually emphasizes the ineffectiveness of international sanctions against Iran, exaggerating the capabilities of military industries and the self-sufficiency of the Islamic Republic in the field of weapon production. A notable example is the unveiling of the prototype and the display of flight footage of the 'Qaher-313' fighter jet in 2012, which according to Mohsen Kazemi, commander of the Mohammad Revolutionary Guards in Greater Tehran, this fighter can counter the US 'F-16.' However, many experts, by examining the dimensions and size of the 'Qaher-313' as well as its engine, displays, flight control devices, and weapon carrying position, have concluded that the mentioned fighter is nothing more than a plastic model and that the footage shown regarding the flight of this aircraft is actually footage of a remotely controlled aircraft. Another example of these questionable achievements relates to a vertical take-off drone, which Iran announced a successful test of in October 2012. The final model of this four-engine stealth drone with an operational radius of 170 kilometers and an altitude ceiling of 12,000 feet, referred to as 'the world's first vertical take-off drone' named 'Koker-1', was supposed to be unveiled at the Kish Air Show in December of that year. Not only did this promise not materialize, but an examination of the images published of this drone's flight in Iranian media showed that these images were edited using software from photos of a vertical take-off drone made by Chiba University in Japan. This drone was produced by this university in collaboration with 'GF Graph' in 2007. In July 2013, Iranian media reported the unveiling of 'the latest vertical take-off drone' named 'Mahnad 41', which was built by a knowledge-based company in Isfahan. This drone weighs 680 grams and has a speed of 56 kilometers per hour and a range of 400 meters. The use of Photoshop to exaggerate and inflate the capabilities of the Islamic Republic is not new. As during the 'Prophet Muhammad 3' exercises held in July 2008, the Revolutionary Guards' website and Iranian media published a photo showing four missiles being launched simultaneously. Subsequent published photos from the same exercise and their comparison and evaluation with previous photos showed that in fact, three missiles were launched and the fourth missile, which likely failed to launch, was added to that photo using imaging software. Propulsion, procurement of parts and supplies from abroad using phrases like 'self-sufficiency', 'completely indigenous design and technology', 'independence from the West', 'ineffectiveness of international sanctions', which in many cases borders on exaggeration, are popular phrases among Revolutionary Guards commanders, the Minister of Defense, and officials of the Islamic Republic's military industries that they express on every suitable occasion and for various occasions. However, evidence shows that international sanctions imposed by the UN, the USA, and some Western countries, as well as some export laws and international contracts, have created tangible limitations for the Islamic Republic, so that this country cannot procure some of the necessary parts and equipment for the production of large drones from the free market. Many companies of the Islamic Republic, such as Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries and Quds Aviation Industries, are subject to these sanctions. Lightweight engines are essential for the propulsion of drones. Despite the imposed sanctions, evidence shows that Iran has succeeded in procuring these engines or the necessary parts for their production. In some cases, Iran has manufactured or assembled these engines itself. Most of Iran's drones are small in size and are tactical with short or medium ranges. The production of these relatively simple drones does not require significant costs, and basic technology suffices for their production. Therefore, procuring the necessary parts for the production of these types of drones in global markets, unlike complex parts with advanced technology or parts that have dual-use applications, does not attract the attention of foreign sellers, and obtaining them through intermediaries or arms dealers at several times the market price is possible. Reports from Western media indicate the Islamic Republic's interest in purchasing aircraft engines from European countries, especially Germany. Based on some documents published by WikiLeaks, American diplomats warned their German counterparts in November 2006 that front companies of the Islamic Republic were attempting to purchase 'Limbach 550E' type aircraft engines (a four-cylinder engine with a power of 50 horsepower) from the manufacturer and then send them to Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company with fake shipping documents. In April of this year, a Frankfurt state court in Germany prosecuted two Iranians for selling several of the mentioned engines that are used for the 'Ababil 3' drone. At the international level, the 'Missile Technology Control Regime' (MTCR) prohibits its members, including Germany, from exporting certain missile and drone technologies. However, since this regime does not include aircraft engines, the Frankfurt court brought the two Iranians to trial for violating German export laws. An examination of the wreckage and engine of an 'Ababil 3' that crashed in Syria confirmed the use of German engines. Despite some dependencies for supplying propulsion for small drones with piston engines, the Aircraft Manufacturing Industries announced in 2012 that it was capable of manufacturing turbofan engines for long-range drones – a type of jet engine suitable for medium speeds and therefore most passenger jet aircraft have turbofan engines. Two years ago, Brigadier General Bitaraf, the deputy head of the Air Industries Organization of the Armed Forces, announced that significant steps had been taken in the design and manufacture of heavy turbofans, and last year the Iranian Minister of Defense also emphasized the use of these jet engines instead of piston engines in drones. Four years ago, in August 2010, the Islamic Republic announced with the unveiling of its first long-range drone named Karrar that the propulsion of this drone is provided by an Iranian-made turbojet engine. According to many technical and aviation experts, it is possible that the Islamic Republic is capable of producing turbojets, but it cannot be said for certain that Iran's aviation industries can manufacture turbofans.