Iran unveils most advanced homemade drone

Iran displayed its most advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed and manufactured by the country's engineers, FARS News Agency reported on Friday. The stealth drone, named Hemaseh (Epic), was unveiled on Thursday evening in a special ceremony in the presence of Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi. The ceremony was held on the sidelines of a conference to commemorate the defense ministry's martyrs. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, Vahidi stated that the drone has been built by defense industry experts and is capable of conducting surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as combat missions simultaneously. Earlier, Deputy Defense Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs Mohammad Eslami had told reporters that Hemaseh enjoys higher capabilities compared with other Iran-made UAVs and can fly at higher altitudes and enjoys longer flight endurance. Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing drones. In April, the Iranian Air Defense Force displayed its Sarir (Throne) drones on the occasion of the National Army Day. Speaking to reporters at the time, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli stated that Sarir is a long-range, long-endurance radar evading air defense drone. "Sarir is capable of carrying cameras and air-to-air missiles and tens of this UAV have so far been produced and used," he added.