File image.
Iran has announced shooting down dozens of Israeli and American drones since the start of the attack on its territories on February 28, releasing videos confirming some of the aerial kills.
Two of the videos released by the Islamic Republic shows Israeli Hermes 900 combat drones getting hit. Another shows a larger Israeli drone, either a Heron or an Eitan.
The Hermes 900 is a medium-size drone with an endurance of over 30 hours and a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet. It was designed by Israel’s Elbit to carry out reconnaissance, surveillance, communications relay and attack missions.
Meanwhile, the slightly larger Heron has an endurance of 52 hours and a service ceiling of 32,000 feet. It was designed by Israel’s IAI for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions. The drone is also reported to be capable of holding armed roles.
The Eitan, also known as the Heron TP, is a larger version of the Heron with an endurance of over 30 hours and a service ceiling of up to 45,000 feet.
Iran apparently used one of its short-range air defense systems, like the Azarakhsh, Majid or Tondar, to take down these drones.
All three systems utilize anti-aircraft missiles equipped with onboard imaging infrared seekers. The Azarakhsh has an engagement range of ten kilometers, while the range of the Majid is limited to eight. Meanwhile, the Tondar, unveiled last year, is said to be capable of engaging targets as far as 15 kilometers away.
It is also very possible that the Islamic Republic used one of its missile-drone hybrid interceptors to take down some of the drones.
One such system, identified by the United States military and intelligence as the “358” anti-aircraft weapon, is reported to have a range of up to 150 kilometers. Iran also unveiled last year a smaller interceptor dubbed Qaem-118. It is reported to have a range of around 25 kilometers. Interceptors are also equipped with onboard imaging infrared seekers.
It’s worth noting that Iran had claimed shooting down multiple U.S. MQ-9 Reaper combat drones. While there is still no visual confirmation, a large drone recorded falling from the sky over the Islamic Republic while engulfed in flames on March 3 appeared to be very similar in design to the MQ-9. Further confirmation is needed, however.
The MQ-9, developed by General Atomics, is primarily used to collect intelligence, but has the ability to conduct pinpoint strikes. The drone can operate for more than 27 hours and reach altitudes of over 25,000 feet.
While the U.S. and Israel have largely succeeded in neutralizing Iran’s long and medium-range air defenses, the Islamic Republic’s short-range systems are still very much active.
These systems pose a real threat to fighter jets and bombers, but by taking down drones they hinder the reconnaissance capabilities of both the U.S. and Israel, and increase the cost of the war in a significant manner. A Hermes 900 for example could cost as much as $30 million.
With time, Iran could reactivate the upper tier of its air defense network, at least to set up ambushes for fighter jets or bombers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
this is fucking awesome..
fuck this abbas araghchi, iran’s foreign minister. he’s either stupid or a spy. he’s responsible for all the mess and election of new supreme leader today, which was bombed by satanyahu.
this dog araghchi led two negotiatons with jews which resulted in a mess.
i predicts that iran’s ability to launch projectiles will be significantly reduced within the next 24 hours. wait and see shock and awe is coming and there’s a lot of hurts for the iranian terror regime.
sioux, apaches, etcaetera, till the last mohican are applauding you.
i only want one thing, that the alawites pay for their dirty betrayal of their allies iran and the brics. i want the next president of russia to hand them over to the hague court or better yet to al-qaeda.what they have done is so heinous that they deserve only death and destruction and nothing but death and destruction. there was a time when i believed in the brics and the alawites. now i want all the alawites dead. i want them to suffer in prison and be tortured,
boy, simplify, you want to see everyone dead.
because what they did to iran with their betrayal is unforgivable.they betrayed the brics and iran. they betrayed their fight against al-qaeda and isis and i will never forgive them for that.i will forever wish them only death and suffering and nothing else. i hope that a new president of russia will come and then they will pay for their dirty deeds. and for those alawites who remained in syria, i hope all their crops dry up and their sheep eat cacti. to die along with their livestock from hung
but israel said all the air defense of iran was destroyed.
you have to keep the people under media sedation. this is probably why bibi flew away to hide. someone must direct hasbara war efforts
iran has developed the iron beam discombobulater and knows how to use it ?