Iran Unveils New Drone Resembling Russia’s Lancet

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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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Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

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