Production Line Inaugurated In Tajikistan For Iranian UAVs; Similar Drones Are Already Used By Palestinians, Houthis, Hizbullah

On May 17, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about the inauguration of the production line of the Iranian Ababil-2 UAV in Tajikistan. The event was attended by Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Mohammad Bagheri and by Tajikistan's Defense Minister General Shirali Mirza. According to the report, drones similar to Ababil-2 have been in operation in Palestine under the name “Jenin” (operated by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9523 and 9568), in Yemen by the Houthis under the name “Samad,” and in Lebanon by Hizbullah under the name "Hassan". The report also provided a brief overview of the drone's technical capabilities.

Narrator: "The inauguration of the production line for the all-Iranian Ababil-2 UAV in Tajikistan. The production line of the UAV began operating in Dushanbe, in the presence of General Mohammad Bagheri, our country's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and General Shirali Mirza, Tajikistan's Defense Minister.

"Ababil-2 has an operational range of 100-150 kilometers. It can fly for 75-120 minutes, its altitude limit is 11,000 feet, it can reach a speed of 150 kilometers per hour and carry ammunition. So far, similar models have been operational in Palestine, where it is called 'Jenin,' in Yemen where it is called 'Samad,' and in Lebanon, where it is called "Hassan" and used by the Hizballah resistance.

"A low radar signature and high operational speed also characterize this UAV and make it difficult to detect."