Tasnim � Iranian Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi described unmanned aerial vehicles as a strong point in the Army, saying they play a strategic role in asymmetric warfare.

In comments on the sidelines of a visit to a base of the Army Ground Force Drone Division on Sunday, Major General Mousavi said the pilotless aircraft are of strategic significance in asymmetric warfare, both in the military and economic spheres.

It is very important for drones to be capable and diversified enough to carry out various missions, the general said, adding that one of the strong points of the drone industry in the Iranian Army is that it is homegrown and totally independent of foreign countries.

He also praised the Drone Division personnel, saying their performance has heartened the Army commanders.

In April, Iran�s Army took delivery of a large number of combat and reconnaissance drones manufactured by domestic defense industries.

In August 2019, Director of Iran�s Aviation Industries Organization (AIO) Brigadier General Abdolkarim Banitarafi said Russia has offered to buy unmanned aircraft from Iran during the International Aviation and Space Show in Russia (MAKS 2019).

He had also said Iran is one of the world�s most advanced countries in the drone industry that exports pilotless aircraft to a number of foreign states.