Iran has unveiled a new loitering or "suicide" drone named the Rezvan during a series of military exercises codenamed Great Prophet 19, according to Iran International.
Loitering drones are capable of floating around in a target area, providing the operator with a live video feed. The moment the operator spots an assigned or opportune target, the drone is then launched at it to explode.
The Rezvan has a range 20 kilometers and an endurance of 20 minutes, and is reportedly useful for deployment in complex terrain and conditions, according to the IRGC.
The Iranian Army also announced today (Thursday) that it would be building up an arsenal of about 1,000 drones as part of an effort to increase military preparedness in general.
In addition, Iran has been conducting several air defense drills near nuclear sites and multiple callup exercises to prepare against possible attacks.
Israel struck Iran twice from the air in retaliation against massive drone and missile attacks against the country, and it reportedly destroyed or neutralized much of its air defense capabilities.
Iran is also reeling from the fall of its former ally Bashar Assad in Syria, with at least one major Iranian military official saying that this served as a major setback and defeat for the Islamic Republic.
Efforts such as the new drone and the military exercises are meant to restore confidence in Iran's abilities. IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami said that "the goal of the exercises is to adjust and refine the enemy's calculations regarding Iran's defense power so that they do not make decisions based on incorrect calculations," and that "foreign developments do not affect our deterrence."
Meanwhile, French President Emanuel Macron announced that Iran is approaching the "point of no return" in its nuclear program, a point that is convincing some in Israel and the United States that a military strike may be necessary to prevent Iran from breaking through to creating an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
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