Iran moves beyond reverse engineering, tailors seized US weapons
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IRGC advisor Ali Balali says Iran goes beyond copying, designing new weapons tailored to its needs from equipment captured in the 2025 and 2026 wars.
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An aerospace exhibition revealed an advanced CIA spy drone, in front, seized in 2011 by Iran, and its Iranian-made copy, in the back, in Tehran, Iran, on May 11. (leader.ir)
Iran is using the American weapons it has seized to develop its own systems, rather than merely carrying out “reverse engineering” on them, Ali Balali, an advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, revealed on Saturday, speaking to the Russian agency Sputnik.
Balali told Sputnik that "the US weapons and equipment we received during the second and third imposed wars [in June 2025 and the conflict ongoing since February 2026] are undergoing the process of reverse engineering and design."
He continued, "However, we are not limited to reproducing weapons samples, but are introducing new ideas to get our own weapons that differ [from the original models] and are more suitable for our needs."
Iran may expand range of ballistic missiles: IRGC
In a separate statement to RIA Novosti on Friday, Balali said Iran may expand the range of its missiles by drawing on military experience gained during its confrontation with the United States.
Balali said the confrontation provided Iran with opportunities to advance its missile and drone capabilities, assess the performance of its military systems, and improve their effectiveness.
He added that Iran's military established no maximum range for its missiles, noting that changing circumstances could make extending their reach necessary. Balali also said Iran was capable of delivering weapons to any designated location or target.
Speaking about an arms exhibition organized in Tehran as part of IRGC Aerospace Force Week, Balali outlined some of the systems on display, including missiles with ranges of 2,000 to 3,500 kilometers and drones capable of remaining airborne for up to 30 hours.
The exhibition also features several air defense systems and satellite launch vehicles designed to reach altitudes of up to 500 kilometers above Earth, he said.
Iran's statements about potentially extending its missile range come amid growing Israeli concerns over Tehran's broader military buildup and preparations for a possible renewed confrontation.
