Karrar Aircraft Is An Unmanned Bomber, Iran Says

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stood on a stage Sunday and pulled a sheet from what he claims is Iran's first long-range UAV, which he says will be used against "aggressors" in the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Defense Ministry Photo

The prototype aircraft is called the Karrar, and it is one of several new pieces of military hardware Iran has revealed in recent months. The UAV was rolled out the day after Iranian and Russian engineers began the fueling process at Iran's first nuclear power station.

Reuters reports that Ahmadinejad said in his speech that the UAV could be used to make "preemptive strikes" against "a percieved threat," though he said it would not be used in a first-strike situation. " Iran will never decide to attack anywhere, but our revolution cannot sit idle in the face of tyranny, we can't remain indifferent," he said.

Iranian state television said that the Karrar could carry four cruise missiles or a 500 pound bomb payload at 560 miles per hour with a range of 620 miles. It could also be used for reconnaissance, or as a missile test bed, according to the station.

FMI: www.state.gov