IRGC tests new kamikaze drone with 50 kg payload
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The IRGC is testing a new suicide drone with a vast range and a huge payload as Iran bolsters its standing among world powers.
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Shahed-class drones seen stacked on a launcher during a military exercise in Iran on December 25, 2021 (IMA Media)
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Ground Force developed a new kamikaze drone capable of detonating targets within a range of 450 kilometers, Iranian media reported on Sunday, citing state officials.
The new unmanned aerial vehicle, dubbed Me'raj-532, has been tested successfully, the head of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the IRGC Ground Force, General Ali Kouhestani, told Tasnim news agency.
Reportedly, the Iranian UAV has a piston engine and can travel as far as 450 kilometers in a one-way mission.
As for the launching mechanism, the drone can take off from a vehicle, and it can go as high as 12,000 feet with a flight time of three hours, the general explained, highlighting that the explosive-laden drone is highly accurate, with a payload of 50 kg.
According to Kouhestani, the drone is very easy to assemble and gear up for flight, making it a suitable option for rapid response missions.
The UK's Defense Intelligence Agency claimed in February that Iran was emerging as a global leader in the production of cheap and lethal drones.
During a briefing in London, analysts from the Defense Intelligence Agency claimed that Iran had turned from being a regional drone player in the Middle East to Russia's most significant military backer in the war.
In late December 2022, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Major General Ali Bagheri, underlined that Iran stands among the world's five leading countries in terms of drone capabilities.
It is noteworthy that since the start of the Ukraine war, Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of taking sides and supplying Moscow with drones to use against Kiev, seeking to impose continuous sanctions against Iran.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
