Iran deploys UCAVs on vessels and submarines

The Iranian Navy presented a task group of vessels and submarines capable of using unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

The relevant presentation of the navy launching drones from various ships was aired on Iranian state television.

A Kilo-class submarine, designated “Tareq,” auxiliary ship “Delvar” and landing ship “Lavan,” can be seen in the video.

Reports indicate that such UCAVs as “Pelican,” “Homa,” “Arash,” “Chamroosh,” “Jubin,” “Ababil-4” and “Bavar-5” were used during the demonstration exercises.

The drone, which is launched from the submarine “Tareq,” is identified as the UAV “Homa.”

Little is known about “Homa” today, except that it is a reconnaissance UAV, and only two drones can be seen on “Tareq” in photos taken during the event.

Vertical take-off “Pelican-2” UAVs were also used in the presentation.

“Pelican-2” was designed to carry out patrol and reconnaissance missions with four engines, which allow it to make vertical movement in addition to the powerful propeller used for horizontal flight.

The Arash UAV is known as a loitering munition, first introduced in 2020 and recently used during the annual Iranian military exercise in 2021.

“Ababil-4” is Iran’s newest addition to the “Ababil” family of drones developed by “Ghods Aviation Industries” and mass-produced by “Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries.” Although few technical details are known about “Ababil-4,” its predecessors are used mainly for reconnaissance operations, but can be equipped with weapons depending on the task.

At a demonstration in April this year, it was revealed that the “Ababil-5” UCAV carries six Almas anti-tank guided missiles and is said to be capable of carrying “Ghaem-5” precision-guided ammunition.

These drones can be launched from almost any ship, and even used against other ships. This can make it difficult to detect the attacks’ site, as well as block launch sites.