Iran has developed an advanced long-range suicide drone "designed to hit Israel's Tel Aviv, Haifa," Iranian news agency Mehr reported, citing Iran’s ground forces chief as saying.

Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said the drone, named Arash-2, is a newer version of Arash-1, and it is designed to target the cities of Iran’s enemy "Israel".

“We have considered this drone specifically for the attack on Haifa and Tel Aviv,” Heidari said, adding that the drone has “unique capabilities and can recover multiple times until it hits the target.”

Heidari confirmed that the drone has been implemented into the army's arsenal and its capabilities will be unveiled soon.

On September 8, the commander of Iran's air forces, Brig. Gen. Hamid Vahedi said Iran has achieved full self-sufficiency in supplying its air forces with combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"We have achieved 100% self-sufficiency in the field of unmanned aircraft, but we must not stop in these efforts," IRNA quoted Vahedi as saying.

The commander noted that Iran has become the leading state in the Middle East in the field of combat drones.

Iran unveils new missile systems, surface & subsurface vessels in future

Earlier, the Chief Commander of Iran’s Army Navy Force, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, announced that new Iranian missile systems and surface and subsurface vessels will be unveiled in the near future.

On the occasion of the Sacred Defense Week, Irani indicated that the Iranian Navy will be equipped with surface and subsurface vessels, in addition to some other equipment.

The Rear Admiral mentioned that some new missile systems will be unveiled during Sacred Defense Week.

It is noteworthy that on September 5, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy added three new military vessels to its fleet, among them a patrol combat warship fitted with air defense missiles with a vertical launching system.

A ceremony was held in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas to officially hand over the new vessels to the IRGC Navy.

Two missile-launching speedboats with the names of IRGC Navy martyrs Rouhi and Dara are among the homegrown ships, along with an advanced patrol combat warship bearing the name of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.

The multi-hulled Martyr Soleimani warship is equipped to transport helicopters. It can also discharge VTOL drones and many types of strike speedboats into the water.

The patrol combat warship is the first Iranian military vessel to be fully equipped with air defense missiles with a vertical launching system that can fire mid- and short-range missiles, according to remarks made at the event by Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Iranian General stressed importance of non-stop expansion defense capabilities

This comes as Brigadier General Amir Hatami, an advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stressed Sunday the importance of the non-stop expansion of Iran’s defense capabilities.

During a military conference in Tehran, Hatami stated that Iran’s strategic, geopolitical, and geostrategic position necessitates the constant promotion of its defense power.

According to Hatami, defense power is the best factor in safeguarding national security and protecting Iran's territorial integrity.

It is noteworthy that in February 2018, Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei called for efforts to maintain and boost Tehran's defense capabilities.

"Without a moment of hesitation, the country must move to acquire whatever is necessary for defense, even if the whole world is opposed to it," Sayyed Khamenei said at the time.

New strike drone, air defense system unveiled: Iran MoD

In late August, the Iranian Defense Ministry presented new defense industry achievements, including a strike drone and an air defense system, at the Defense Industry Week exhibition in Tehran in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

Despite harsh unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and the West, the Islamic Republic has been able to enhance its military capabilities and technology using domestic materials and with the help of its scientists.

Read more: IRGC Navy: New warship gives Iran presence in international waters