ESCALATION

Iran Unveils New Naval ‘Suicide Drone’

Ready for surveillance or attacks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has released a “suicide drone” that can be used by naval units to attack ships with missiles or by flying directly into them. Though the drone is primarily meant to carry out surveillance missions, it can be armed with missiles and heavy explosives for combat missions. The unveiling comes after several tense encounters between Iranian forces and U.S. Navy vessels. An Iranian news agency said the drone, which is white and powered by two small propellers, “can collide with the target and destroy it, [whether] a vessel or an onshore command center.” Local reports about the drone claim it has a 620-mile range and a four-hour maximum flight time.