Strikes from 6 km above, can fly for hours, carry guided missiles and…: This is one of Iran’s deadliest military weapons, its name is…

Ababil-5 drone: Iran’s indigenous combat drone, the Ababil-5, is poised to give the world’s largest superpowers sleepless nights and become the Islamic Republic’s most lethal and accurate pawn. Positioned to strike American warships sailing in the waters, this drone can reportedly evade radar detection and attack from a height of 6 kilometers, destroying enemy ships.

First introduced during Iran’s Army Day parade in April 2022, the Ababil-5 is said to be the most modern and lethal version of the country’s popular Ababil series. The Ababil-2 and Ababil-3 were mainly used for short-range surveillance purposes, while the advanced Ababil-5 is a full-fledged UCAV combat drone.

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Ababil-5 Drone: Range, speed​​, and payload capacity

Just like the Mohajer-6, the Ababil-5 reportedly uses the Rotax-914 engine (115 horsepower), which enables it to lift heavy loads and cover vast distances.

• Operational Range: This drone can fly approximately 480 kilometers. However, some defense experts say that this is only one-way, and its ferry range could be greater.
• Flight Time: The Ababil-5 is capable of reconnaissance or attack operations while flying for 8 to 10 hours without a break, as per reports.
• Service Ceiling: This drone can operate at an altitude of nearly 20,000 feet.
• Weight: This drone has a total take-off weight of roughly 500 kg, with an empty weight of 350 kg.
• Payload: It can carry up to 150 kilograms of lethal weapons and intelligence cameras/sensors.

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Key features of this advanced Iranian drone

The Ababil-5 is designed to conduct highly precise air strikes. The key features include:

• Multi-mission eyeball sensor: This drone features an electro-optical/infrared camera on its underside, helping it locate enemies in both daylight and night.

• Guided anti-tank missiles: The Ababil-5 can carry 4 Almas series anti-tank guided missiles under its wings, destroying enemy sites in the blink of an eye.

• Precision-guided bombs: This drone can carry six Qaem-1, Qaem-5-class smart guided bombs, as they weigh approximately 2.4 kilograms each. However, they can strike enemy targets at a precise range of 6 km.

• Anti-ship capability: With the help of the Almas missile and the maritime variant of the Qaim bombs, this Iranian drone can strike enemy high-speed patrol boats and small warships in shallow waters or coastal areas.

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