Iran Shows Underground Facility for Arash Attack Drones
Iran’s army released video of an underground site producing Arash one-way attack drones, and state television said a new variant carries a 100-kilogram warhead. Army chief Amir Hatami said the drone program now involves production, maintenance, and deployment infrastructure, and he stressed Iran’s focus on asymmetric warfare. The facility’s location and output were not disclosed.
Iran’s military published footage on 22 October showing an underground site where Arash one-way attack drones are built. State television said a newer model carries a 100-kilogram warhead. Army chief Amir Hatami toured the facility, and reports described the release as the first public look at the army’s domestic drone production.
Hatami said the program now covers manufacturing, upkeep and fielding, not just the weapons. It began with the Defense Ministry and grew to include universities, researchers and technology firms. The older Arash-2 is described as a long-range strike drone with a reported 2,000-kilometer range; the new variant’s warhead would be much larger. The site’s location and output remain undisclosed.
The unveiling could affect regional security perceptions by signaling Iran’s emphasis on asymmetric drone capabilities. Nearby states and military planners may reassess air-defense and infrastructure protection needs, while Iranian defense firms and universities involved in the program could see greater institutional attention. For ordinary civilians, the reported warhead size and underground production may heighten concerns about escalation, though the facility’s undisclosed location and output limit concrete assessments.