A home-made combat, reconnaissance and tactical drone named ‘Simorgh (Phonix)’ was delivered to the Iranian Navy on Saturday, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

The ceremony to unveil and deliver Simorgh was held at the third Naval zone of Nabovat in the Southeastern waters of Iran in the presence of Iranian Deputy Army Commander for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi.

Simorgh is the marine model of Shahed-29 drone in operation by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, and enjoys the capability to conduct combat operations against ground targets, using smart bombs.

Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh had announced earlier that Iran has decided to call its own version of the US Sentinel spy drone RQ-170 as Simorgh.

Iran is now developing Simorgh into a class of drones with reconnaissance, surveillance, combat and bombing capabilities. According to earlier reports, Simorgh drones are equipped with an autopilot capability that brings them back to their airbase if operators lose control or are disconnected from the pilotless aircraft.

In an interview with the state TV, General Hajizadeh said the IRGC named its version of the US drone RQ-170 - that was downed and remanufactured through reverse engineering four years ago - Simorgh, an Iranian benevolent, mythical flying creature.

The manufacture of the Iranian drone based on the US RQ-170 spying drone, which was captured in 2011 by the IRGC Aerospace Force was a major blow to the US government.