Apart from Russia, which is reportedly bringing in drones from Iran, apparently there are other ex-Soviet Union countries that are interested in the capabilities of Iranian combat/kamikaze drones. What is meant is Tajikistan, this country in Central Asia since mid-May 2022 has reportedly inaugurated a company that produces the Ababil 2 drone.
Quoted from the Asia-Plus website – asiaplustj.info, it is stated that this company was built to strengthen and expand the joint defense and military cooperation between the two countries thanks to the efforts and specialist assistance of the Ministry of Defense and with the support of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Iran is known to have started developing drone technology since the 1980s. The development of Iranian drones was initiated by a drone received from the United States in the 1970s, namely the Firebee drone target.
"In addition to meeting domestic needs, we can export military equipment to allies and friendly countries to strengthen security and lasting peace," said Mohammad Boqiri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. However, details about the plant's production capacity and the capabilities of the Ababil 2 drone were not reported.
From several literatures it is said that Ababil 2 relies on a GPS-based control system, which allows the drone to fly along a predetermined route, and independently return to the ground control station and land using a parachute. The Ababil is launched from the catapult with the support of rocket propulsion or the power of compressed air.
The Ababil 2 can be launched from the surface, from the cargo hold of a truck, from the deck of a boat, perhaps even from the back of a small van. Ababil 2 is intended primarily for reconnaissance missions, photographing the area and gathering intelligence. Apart from that, this drone can also be used as a target drone in air force training, or equipped with 40 kg of explosives, which makes the Ababil 2 a kamikaze (loitering munition) drone.
Battle Proven
One interesting thing about Ababil 2 is that this kamikaze drone is also installed on a high speed boat. At a glance, Ababil 2, this mini drone, although it does not qualify for the MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone, this drone already has the title of battle proven.
Manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), Ababil 2 has been widely used in several fields, namely Hezbollah which operated Ababil 2 in the armed conflict in Lebanon in 2002. Twelve units of Ababil 2 have been launched by Hezbollah at least, but several Ababils later was shot down by an Israeli Air Force F-16. Another Ababil 2 match is when it is used in Yemen, Iraq, Sudan, Syria and Palestine.
From the specifications, the Ababil 2 is powered by a two-cylinder WAE-342 piston engine with a power of 25 hp. Thanks to two propeller blades, this drone can fly at a maximum speed of 370 km per hour and a cruising speed of 250 - 350 km per hour. With a full fuel capacity of 16 liters, the Ababil 2 can roam as far as 120 km.
Endurance Ababil 2 is very limited, which is a maximum of only 2 hours and a flying altitude of 3,000 meters. The payload that can be carried is up to 40 kg, while the drone's empty weight is 30 kg and the maximum weight at take-off is set at 83 kg. Ababil 2 has an overall length of 2.88 meters, a wingspan of 3.25 meters and a height of 0.91 meters.
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| Iran Kamikaze Drone Production |
Washington Deals to Tajiskistan
As if not wanting to lose influence in Tajiskista, the United States apparently also offers Puma surveillance drones. US Ambassador to Tajikistan John Mark Pommersheim told a press conference in Dushanbe that the US would supply the RQ-20 Puma reconnaissance drone to Tajikistan's border forces.
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John Mark Pommersheim noted that details of the US$20 million deal are currently being negotiated by the parties. According to him, American drones will serve to monitor Tajikistan's airspace in border areas.
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