Karrar (UCAV)

Karrar ( karrār, "striker", nickname of Ali, Cousin and Son-in-Law of Muhammad, the Fourth and Last of the Rashidun of the Sunni, and the first Imam of the Shi'a, ) is an unmanned combat air vehicle produced for the military of Iran. According to reports, the UCAV can bomb targets at high speed. It is the first long-range unmanned aerial drone manufactured in Iran.

Unveiling
The long-range drone was unveiled on August 23, 2010 - one day after the activation of the nuclear reactor in Bushehr. Television footage showed the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad applauding as a blue cloth was pulled back to reveal a short aircraft, painted in military-green with the words Bomber jet on its side. The ceremony was held in a hall of Tehran's Malek Ashtar University. Later, the President Ahmadinejad stated, "This jet is a messenger of honour and human generosity and a saviour of mankind, before being a messenger of death for enemies of mankind."

Specifications
Iranian state TV said the Karrar has a range of 1000 km and could carry two 115 kg bombs, or a precision-guided munition of 227 kg. The Karrar can also carry four Kowsar light anti-ship missiles or one Nasr-1 anti-ship missile. The Karrar unmanned combat air vehicle is 4 m long, and is powered by a turbojet engine, giving a top speed of 900 km/h. The Karrar uses a rocket assist system to assist in take off and is recovered by parachute.

Resemblance
According to some western military analysis, the Karrar bears a striking resemblance to the MQM-107 target drone designed in 1970s. According to a report from Denel Dynamics, however, the UCAV has significant design differences including the tailplane.