Iran claims new Arash-e Kamangir defence system downed US Reaper drone
Iran claims it used a new air defence system to shoot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. Iranian media reported the drone was downed near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the incident shows Tehran still retains the ability to counter US and Israeli attacks despite months of assaults. The interception marks the first use of the locally developed Arash-e Kamangir combat defence system. There is no independent confirmation of Iran’s claim about the new interception system. However, the loss of a US drone near one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes coincided with reports of new US strikes on Iranian military sites near Bandar Abbas, followed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacking a US airbase. Tehran’s claim has renewed questions about how much Iran’s air defence capabilities have survived months of Israeli and US attacks. Will Iran still be able to withstand US attacks in a next round if negotiations fail?
What is Arash-e Kamangir? According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency said the Arash-e Kamangir system was used to intercept enemy reconnaissance drones over the Strait of Hormuz. They described the system as having stealth detection capabilities but provided few technical details. Iranian media stated the interception was a warning to hostile aircraft operating near Iran’s airspace and maritime borders, especially as Iran seeks to leverage partial control of the strait in ceasefire negotiations with the US. “This operation, conducted using a stealth-capable system, sends a clear and firm message from Iran,” Fars quoted an unnamed official as saying. The new interception system announced by Fars, in Persian, means “Arash the Archer”. It is named after a Persian mythological hero depicted in folklore as shooting an arrow to mark the border between Iran and Central Asia. Arash is widely revered in Persian poetry and literature as a hero who helped Iran resist foreign domination.
How credible is Iran’s claim? Analysts say the claim should be treated with caution. Iranian officials have a long history of publicising military advancements that are difficult to verify independently. However, experts also say the general idea behind the claim makes sense. Iran has heavily invested in cheaper, mobile, domestically produced defence systems designed to threaten drones and aircraft without relying on large fixed radar sites that are easier to detect. Mark Hilborne, a senior lecturer at King’s College London’s School of Security Studies, told Al Jazeera that while little independent verification exists about Arash-e Kamangir, the attack fits a broader pattern. “Iran has become fairly autonomous in various missile designs and, like Ukraine, has been smart in transforming the economics of warfare. Cheap and simple systems can threaten much more complex ones.” The reported downing of the Reaper drone could also force the US to rely more on expensive missiles rather than drones when attacking Iran.