IRGC says new bomber drone undergoing flight tests from carrier

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says a new bomber drone has been configured for runway takeoffs and is undergoing flight tests from the IRGC’s drone carrier platform, expected to be fully operational soon.

“With its high speed and advanced features, the Jass 313 can effectively carry out its missions,” IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri said, according the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim website.

He added that the drone has a flight endurance of one hour and has been successfully tested aboard the drone carrier vessel Shahid Bagheri in early February.

The US Treasury last week levied sanctions on six entities in Hong Kong and mainland China it said facilitate the acquisition of parts for armed drones produced by Iran, as part of Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran.

The newly sanctioned entities helped procure millions of dollars worth of Western-origin technology for Iran's drone program.

The Jass 313 is designed for dual roles—conducting reconnaissance operations and delivering precision strikes, as described by Tangsiri.

The unveiling of the drone comes amid Iran’s continued expansion of its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet.

Iranian officials have long said that the drone development as a key pillar of the country’s defense strategy, but Western officials expressed concerns over Iran’s expanding capabilities, citing potential threats to regional stability.

While the Jass 313 shares its designation with the earlier Qaher 313 fighter jet project, Iranian sources have reported that it is an independent development aimed at bolstering naval aviation.

Western powers accuse Iran of providing drones and missiles to Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Iranian drones have repeatedly been deployed in attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and other civilian targets. The Shahed 136 drone is typically launched alongside cruise and ballistic missile attacks to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.