Karrar | |
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An artist's drawing of Karrar | |
Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
Manufacturer | Defense industry of Iran |
First flight | 2009 |
Primary user | Iran |
The Karrar (Persian: کرار karrār, "striker",[1] is an unmanned combat air vehicle produced for the military of Iran. According to reports, the UCAV can bomb targets at high speed.[2] It is the first long-range unmanned aerial drone manufactured in Iran.[3]
The long-range drone was unveiled on August 23, 2010, one day after the activation of the nuclear reactor in Bushehr. Television footage showed the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad applauding as a blue cloth was pulled back to reveal a short aircraft, painted in military-green with the words Bomber jet on its side. The ceremony was held in a hall of Tehran's Malek Ashtar University.[2] Later, the President Ahmadinejad stated, "This jet is a messenger of honour and human generosity and a saviour of mankind, before being a messenger of death for enemies of mankind."[4]
Iranian state TV said the Karrar has a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) and could carry two 115 kilograms (254 lb) bombs, or a precision-guided munition of 227 kilograms (500 lb).[4] The Karrar can also carry four Kowsar light anti-ship missiles or one Nasr-1 anti-ship missile.[5] The Karrar unmanned combat air vehicle is 4 metres (13 ft) long,[6][7] and is powered by a turbojet engine, giving a top speed of 900 kilometres per hour (560 mph).[8] The Karrar uses a rocket assist system to assist in take off and is recovered by parachute.
According to some western military analysis, the Karrar bears a striking resemblance to the US Beechcraft MQM-107 Streaker target drone designed in the 1970s and exported to Iran before the Iranian revolution. According to a report from Denel Dynamics, however, the UCAV has significant design differences including the tailplane.[9]
External images | |
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Karrar UCAV during its test flight | |
Another view of Karrar UCAV test flight | |
Karrar UCAV inauguration ceremony | |
Karrar UCAV |
General characteristics Performance
Armament