Iranian Army Detects Foreign Spy Planes During Large-Scale Drills: Reports

Iranian Air Defense Force Commander said that several aircraft not from countries in the region were detected during Iran's massive military exercises.

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) — Iran's military have detected and issued warnings to several foreign aircraft intercepted during the first day of a large-scale military exercise, Tasnim News Agency reported on Thursday, quoting the Iranian Air Defense Force Commander, Farzad Esmaili.

Farzad Esmaili told Tasnim that the mentioned aircraft were not from countries in the region. He did not specify their number.

Esraili stressed that the Iranian Air Defense Force has full control over the area where the exercises are being conducted.

Iran's military exercises, code-named Muhammad Rasullullah (Muhamad the Messenger of God) which involve the country's Army Ground Force, Air Force, Air Defense Force and Navy, started on Thursday and will last until December 31.

According to Tasnim, the first two days of Iranian drills will be devoted mainly to ground force exercises.

During drills on Thursday, Iran flew two versions of its domestically-produced Mohajer (Migraint) reconnaissance drones, the Mohajer2-N (M2-N) and Mohajer 4 (M4). Both versions of the Mohajer drones can handle a wide range of civil and combat tasks, including aerial reconnaissance, search and rescue, cartography and oil pollution patrol missions. The Mojaher drones can also be armed with missiles. The newest of two, the M2-N drone was unveiled late in November at the International Iran Kish Airshow.