Iran’s official IRNA news agency said on Saturday the country’s military had shot down a reconnaissance drone in western Iran near the border with Iraq.
IRNA quoted Colonel Farzad Fereidouni, a local air defense system commander, in a report as saying the unmanned aircraft was shot down in recent days after it “confronted” the air defense missile system. He did not say which country the drone belonged to, or give specifics on the timing.
Iran has claimed to have captured several US drones in recent years, including an advanced RQ-170 Sentinel CIA spy drone in December 2011 and at least three Boeing-designed ScanEagle aircraft.
Iran said last year it had successfully tested its copy of the RQ-170 drone based on one it captured. Tehran has said it is also copying the ScanEagle.
Iran also unveiled a short-range solid fuel ballistic missile on Saturday, an upgraded version that the government said could more accurately pinpoint targets.
The surface-to-surface Fateh-313, or Conqueror, was unveiled at a ceremony marking Defense Industry Day and attended by President Hassan Rouhani, who said military might was necessary to achieve peace in the volatile Middle East.
State television showed footage of the missile being fired from an undisclosed location. The missile is a newer version of Fateh-110 and has a quicker launch capability, a longer lifespan and can strike targets with pinpoint accuracy within a 500km (310-mile) range, the report said.
United Nations security council resolution 2231, which endorsed a landmark nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers last month, has called on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran says none of its missiles are designed for that purpose.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/22/iran-shoots-down-drone-missile-iraq
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