Iran has revealed a new loitering munition drone that bears a striking resemblance to Russia’s Lancet drone. The unnamed drone, reportedly developed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is believed to have similar capabilities to the Lancet, which has proven effective in combat in Syria and Ukraine.
Similarities to the Lancet
According to a report by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the new drone is “inspired” by the Lancet, suggesting it shares a similar design and capabilities. The Lancet has a flight endurance of 30 to 60 minutes, carries a payload of 6 to 12 pounds, and has a range of 25 miles. The Iranian drone is expected to have comparable specifications.
The Lancet’s Combat Record
In Ukraine, Lancets have successfully destroyed high-value targets, including Western-supplied tanks, howitzers, air defenses, and fighter jets, even miles behind the frontlines. Ukraine has acknowledged the difficulty in countering these drones.
Iran’s Drone Exports to Russia
Despite the Lancet’s impressive performance, there is no indication that Iran is interested in acquiring the drone from Russia. Instead, Tehran has been exporting its Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 loitering munitions to Russia since 2022, with Russia even assembling variants of these drones locally. In return, Moscow has paid for the drones with gold bullion and reportedly sent captured American Javelin and Stinger missiles to Iran.
Iran’s Drone Development Capabilities
Iran has a history of reverse-engineering foreign weapons systems, including the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel drone, which it used to develop the Shahed 171 Simorgh and Saegheh drones. However, according to defense analyst Farzin Nadimi, there is no indication that Russia provided Lancet drones or designs to Iran as part of their transactions.
While the new Iranian drone strongly resembles Russia’s Lancet, it is likely the result of Iran’s own domestic development capabilities rather than a direct technology transfer from Moscow. As Iran continues to expand its drone arsenal, the international community will closely monitor its advancements and their potential impact on regional security.
Photo courtesy of Russian Ministry of Defense.
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