 "Iran is set to boost its naval power with 1,000 drones and a new warship. Representational image/AP")
Iran is set to induct a new warship and around 1,000 advanced drones into its military arsenal in the coming days, state media reported on Sunday (January 12), citing Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, deputy chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination.
The drones will feature “stealth capabilities, high explosive power, long range, and precision targeting,” Sayyari told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The destroyer will be added to the naval force, while the drones will join the Army’s Drone Unit, Sayyari said. “Stealth, long range, pinpoint accuracy and high destructive power are among the features of these drones, which will be added to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army in the coming days,” he added.
He did not provide details about the warship but said it would significantly enhance the Iranian Navy’s combat capabilities.
Sayyari also noted that additional upgraded vessels and flight units are expected to join the Navy in the near future.
Separately, Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari, commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force, said new military equipment with features such as enhanced manoeuvrability, precision, smart systems, and network-based capabilities would be deployed to address various threats.
Iran’s military modernisation
Iran’s military, including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Army, has been steadily upgrading its hardware and combat readiness under the directives of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In October 2024, state media had reported government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani as saying that Iran’s government plans to raise its military budget by around 200 per cent.
The planned defence budget increase is part of a budget proposal that has been submitted by the government to parliament for approval.
Within weeks of that announcement, in November 2024, an adviser to Khamenei said that Tehran is likely to increase the range of its ballistic missiles and possibly review its nuclear doctrine.
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More ShortsWith inputs from agencies