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Tuesday, 18 August 2026dailybeirut.com
World
Iran has unveiled its new 'Iron 110' suicide drone, designed for high-speed strikes on protected targets with low radar visibility. The drone, showcased in military exhibitions and tested in joint drills, remains unproven in combat.
The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate stated that two Iranian-made, explosive drones of the 'Iron 110' model targeted the office of regional government head Masrour Barzani and the residence of the head of the 'Barastan' agency in Erbil, without causing casualties.
Iran revealed details of its new suicide drone, the 'Iron 110,' also known as 'Dalahu,' which operates with a jet engine, months before the outbreak of war in June 2025.
According to information published at the time on sites affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, the drone was designed to strike protected targets by combining high speed with a low radar signature to minimize the time available for air defenses before impact.
The drone’s details were first publicly disclosed on February 12, 2025, when the Revolutionary Guard-affiliated 'Daneshjoo' agency released images of it, presenting it as a defense ministry achievement tailored for one-way attacks.
The images showed a launch from an unmanned submarine, indicating its potential deployment from maritime platforms. However, the Revolutionary Guard did not announce the system’s operational deployment or a similar combat mission launch.
The 'Iron 110' was later displayed at the 'Eqtedar 1403' exhibition, visited by former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in January 2025, without any specifications being disclosed.
Later, Iran announced that the latest version can fly faster and at lower altitudes while reducing its radar signature. However, the original model’s specifications remain undisclosed, making it impossible to assess the extent of improvements made.
The 'Iron 110' relies on a small 'turboprop' engine, unlike the piston and propeller engines powering most Iranian suicide drones. According to information released by Revolutionary Guard media, this shift grants higher speed but greater fuel consumption and shorter range.
Launch begins with a solid-fuel booster that lifts the drone to required speed and altitude, after which the jet engine takes over until target impact. This eliminates the need for a runway and enables deployment from mobile ground launchers.
The declared cruising speed is 510 kilometers per hour, with a maximum speed reaching approximately 517 kilometers. Its operational range is 350 kilometers, with a flight time close to one hour. The ceiling reaches about 30,000 feet, or 9,000 meters. The drone carries a warhead weighing around 30 kilograms—designed for precision strikes on specific targets rather than widespread destruction.
The comparison with the 'Shahed 136' illustrates the nature of the change. The Shahed equipped with a piston engine travels at about 185 kilometers per hour, but can cover longer distances due to lower fuel consumption.
A previous report by 'Hamshahri' noted the engine is quieter, though no measurement or comparison was provided against the Shahed 136. The property remains immeasurable due to lack of data on the turbojet type, thrust power, and fuel consumption. The 'Iron 110' is suited for rapid strikes on nearby targets, while the Shahed 136 is better for longer missions where cost and endurance outweigh speed.
The body features a blended delta wing design with angled lines and multi-faceted surfaces. This configuration deflects radar waves away from their source, reducing reflected energy and making it harder to detect a small object from a distance.
Intake placement is positioned high on the body to reduce visibility to ground radars. The internal duct follows a curved path that shields the engine blades—the parts most likely to reflect radar signals. The Revolutionary Guard claims the outer body surface is coated with a material that absorbs part of the waves. However, no radar cross-section measurement or test results demonstrating the structure and coating’s performance against operational radar have been published.
Thus, the 'Iron 110' cannot be considered invisible. It is designed to be less detectable, delaying discovery, then using its high speed to shorten the window between detection and impact. Iran has announced the version’s capability to fly at low altitudes.
This trajectory aims to reduce detection by ground-based radars, but the actual minimum altitude, speed at such levels, and ability to avoid obstacles remain unannounced.
The drone uses an autonomous pilot combining inertial navigation with satellite-based positioning. Target coordinates and flight path are entered via a tablet prior to launch, after which the 'Iron 110' executes its mission automatically.
'Hamshahri' mentioned the possibility of adding visual guidance, but did not specify the sensor type or image transmission method. The operating agency has not disclosed hit accuracy or the navigation system’s resilience to electronic jamming. It remains unclear whether coordinates can be updated post-launch or if the drone can search for moving targets. The absence of these details suggests the demonstrated mission is limited to striking pre-known fixed locations.
Announced target lists include radars, command centers, ammunition depots, and sensitive infrastructure. The warhead weight and propulsion system choice point the 'Iron 110' toward targets requiring rapid arrival and precise impact.
Its role becomes evident when launched as part of a synchronized attack including ballistic missiles, ground drones, and slow-moving drones. Differences in speed and trajectories force defenses to track multiple targets and distribute radars and interceptors across threats arriving at different times.
The drone was tested during the 'Sahand' exercises attended by ten countries from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Revolutionary Guard also announced its first use in March 2026 during Operation 'Sadiq Vow 4,' in response to attacks on February 28. However, Iran has not shown a target hit by the drone, footage of interception, or any measurable combat performance result.
Its dimensions, total weight, fuel capacity, production cost, and inventory size remain undisclosed. The true value of the 'Iron 110' hinges on these unanswered questions. While the jet engine and angular body represent a clear departure from slower Iranian drones, penetrating a multi-layered air defense system is not proven by design alone—but by documented combat results.
