Iran fired only a fraction of its arsenal during the April 13 attack on Israel.
– The attack doesn’t really say much about Iran’s capabilities. If it had come without warning and without the support of Israel’s allies, the outcome could have been different, says Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou, associate professor of military science at the Norwegian Defense Academy.
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Largest in the region
Today, Iran is estimated to have thousands of robots and drones in its warehouses – the most in the entire Middle East.
They have largely developed and produced the Arsenal themselves.
The investment in the domestic arms industry began in earnest after the revolution in the country in 1979 – when Iran went from being a secular state to an Islamic republic.
– Then they had to become more self-sufficient because they couldn’t get weapons from the US like before, says Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou.
Investment in drones
After decades of sanctions, the country has had difficulty getting the spare parts needed to build a traditional air force, according to the IISS.
That is one of the reasons why they have invested so heavily in drones, according to Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou.
– They consist of smaller parts that are easier to smuggle in. The Iranian drones have been found to contain Western components, so apparently they have managed to circumvent the restrictions, he says.
The purpose of Iran’s drone and robot attack against Israel was mainly the signal value, believes Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou: “They wanted to show that they have this capacity and are willing to strike at Israel’s territory, despite the fact that they have nuclear weapons” Photo: Simon Krona
Scouting for religious minorities
The drones have become a way of exerting influence in the region – they are sent, for example, to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and to Iraqi groups.
But even within Iran’s borders they come in handy.
– Iran is big – six times the size of Great Britain. Then it is practical to use drones to be able to keep an eye on the entire territory where the terrain can be difficult to access, says Heydarian Pashakhanlou.