The tournament began on Monday and will last for two weeks, The aim is to test the drones’ artillery-guiding abilities
Footages from Iranian state television showed glimpses of the inauguration ceremony on Monday ceremony in the city of Kashan, joined by representatives from all four countries.
“Falcon hunting” 2022, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) competition, part of the seventh iteration of wider annual military games launched by Russia in 2015, was hosted by the aerospace division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC aerospace chief and tournament host, and top advisor Ali Balali said that the competition would be judged by the members of all delegations
Judgment would be based on the performance and consistency in aerial reconnaissance and how the UAVs could help guide precise artillery fire during both day and night
Balali told the state-affiliated Tasnim news website that more than 70 military personnel who participated would undergo physical readiness and shooting tests during the tournament, which is expected to end on august 28.
“Message of peace and friendship and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s joint cooperation with other countries to counter global terrorism” is the goal of the games in addition to facilitating an “exchange of experiences and military achievements” on drones.
Does this mean stronger ties between Tehran and Moscow?
Months before this drone tournament we claimed that Russia is planning to purchase “hundreds” of drones from Iran to be used in the war in Ukraine, but claims were denied by Tehran.
In addition, Iran claims that it won’t do anything to escalate the war in Ukraine, but it hasn’t condemned Russia either.
Tehran and Moscow are building closer ties, with a rare foreign trip to Tehran by Russian president Vladimir Putin since the start of the war in February.
Also, Russia built a satellite for Iran last week that it successfully launched into space from a base in Kazakhstan amid Western concerns that it could be used by the kremlin in the Ukraine war.
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