Iranian drone ‘Mohajer 10’ being exhibited during the Defense Industry Fair in Tehran, Iran on August 23, 2023. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BEIRUT — At a high-level ceremony attended by senior Iranian officials, the Islamic Republic recently unveiled its newest unmanned aerial vehicle, dubbed Mohajer-10, which it claims has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), according to state media.
Mohajer-10 is the upgraded version of Mohajer-6 drone and can carry a 300-kilogram payload, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, doubling the capacity of the older version, with several times increased range.
The state news agency reported that Mohajer-10 can carry 450 liters of fuel, has a maximum speed of 210 km/h (130 mph), can stay in the air for 24 hours and “is equipped with various smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy […] as well as electronic warfare equipment and intelligence systems.”
In an apparent message to Israel, Reuters reported that an Iranian television segment on the drone included text saying “prepare your shelters” in Hebrew and Persian.
The unveiling took place only one week after Tehran displayed a large variety of its unmanned systems at Army 2023 defense expo held in Russia. There Iran’s booth showcased the Arash, Ababil-5 Karrar, and Shahin combined-type UAVs.
Samuel Bendett, an AI and unmanned systems expert at the US-based CNA research organization, told Breaking Defense that it’s hard to judge Mohajer-10 drone’s efficacy since it hasn’t yet flown in combat missions.
“It’s hard to judge how this drone will perform against significant and sophisticated countermeasures that exist in the region. It’s likely that just like Mohajer-6, this drone is presented for export,” Bendett concluded.
A potential customer: Russia. The US and Ukraine have detailed how Moscow has been using Iran-made drones in its invasion.
“Iranian program is growing in sophistication and capabilities, despite the sanctions and attempts at limiting its access to high-tech products,” Bendett told Breaking Defense.
He added that Shahed drone, reportedly a prolific one in Ukraine, addressed a critical need for the Russian military, filling a gap between shorter-ranged ISR and loitering munitions and long-range missiles.
“The Russian military will continue to use these to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, but these attacks are not having the intended effect of changing Ukrainian’s resolve and will to fight,” Bendett said.
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“I’m not looking in any way, shape, or form to re-litigate how we got here, where to place blame. I don’t care. At this point, I don’t care,” said Rep. Rob Wittman.
