Former Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami recently announced that the country’s defense exports have doubled in the past year, adding that the Iran-made drones are now popular in many countries.
Iran today has good ties in defense exports with over 42 countries, General Hatami said in his farewell ceremony in Tehran, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
“Our drones are welcomed by other countries,” he added, saying that the country’s exports of defense products have doubled in the past Iranian year (ended on March 2020).
General Hatami elaborated on achievements gained by the Defense Ministry under his management, and said that the country has witnessed good successes in the area of ground equipment and in the field of missile and air defense during recent years.
He went on to say that good things have also occurred in the area of electronic war, submarines, and speed-boats.
Meanwhile, Iran’s new Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani announced that he plans to bolster the country’s combat power and increase exports of home-made defense products.
Improving combat capability by upgrading defense systems against possible hard- and semi-hard threats posed by enemies against the country coupled with exporting defense products will be prioritized in the defense ministry, General Ashtiani said on Saturday.
During a meeting with former Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami, he seized the opportunity to thank his predecessor for drastic measures taken over the past four years for materializing most objectives of Iran’s defense industry.
Strengthening combat capability through upgrading defense systems against hard and semi-hard threats is one of the main missions of the Ministry of Defense, General Ashtiani emphasized. He also pointed to the production of coronavirus vaccine in the country as one of the main priorities, and stated that ‘Fakhra Vaccine’ has reached its final stages and would be mass-produced in the very near future.
In relevant remarks earlier this month, Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi underlined great progress in his country’s capabilities to design and manufacture different types of drones and missiles.
In a message to the Defense Minister, he lauded the measures and supports of the Iranian Defense Minister as well as tireless efforts of defense industry scientists, and said: “The increase in combat power in the areas of land, air and naval defense, considering the recent threats and fundamental changes, and the significant improvement of the army’s drone and missile capabilities were achieved in the light of the efforts of defense industry scientists.”
Also, in February, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh stated that the country is capable of manufacturing different types of drones, adding that new drones are due to be produced in future.
“Today, we have reached full maturity and skills in building various types of drones used for combat, reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions, and we have developed the technologies needed for making various types of drones based on needs, and we have on agenda production of other types of drones in future,” General Nasirzadeh said, visiting the Kaman 22 drone production project.
“Kaman 22 drone (photo) enjoys combat, optical and electronic warfare equipment and is designed based on the operational requirements of the Air Force and is in the final stages of production,” he added.
“Kaman 22 drone is the first wide-body combat drone in the country and is capable of carrying all types of cargos with very high flight durability of more than 24 hours and a range of 3,000 km, which has the ability to identify, monitor and collect information and images from distant targets. Carrying all kinds of smart ammunition, it will give the Air Force a high combat capability,” General Nasirzadeh said.
