In a report released Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal said a variety of companies in the US, China, France and the UK are developing armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) modeled after Iranian Shahed.
The US and its allies added that they are “competing to develop low-cost, long-range replica weapons.”
The report also noted that a model similar to Shahed stood out among the 18 different US-made drone prototypes that were shown at an event held by the US War Bureau this summer.
These models include Lucas and Arrowhead, created by Spectreworks and Griffon Aerospace Companies, respectively.
“Shahed and its imitations are so popular that companies like Griffon and Sweden’s Saab are selling targeted dairy UAVs that resemble Iranian ammunition,” the report said.
Shahed drones are one of the most advanced UAVs in the world, with exceptional reconnaissance, surveillance and operational capabilities while maintaining a highly cost-effective price. If you deploy a large amount, you can disable the opponent’s air defense system.
In May, US President Donald Trump praised the efficiency and affordability of Iranian drones, criticizing the high costs associated with American arms manufacturers.
He compares Iran’s production costs to “$35,000-40,000”, and US manufacturers cite $41 million on comparable models.
The large and rapid advances in Iranian drone technology and the ability to carry out long-range strikes in drone warfare with high levels of accuracy have solidified the country’s growing military power in West Asia.
The cutting-edge drone program was one of the Iranian military’s breakthroughs in manufacturing a wide range of Indigenous defence devices to make the military self-sufficient in the face of years of US threats and sanctions.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that they would not hesitate to strengthen their military capabilities for their entire defense.
MNA/