In early 1991, a surprising windfall landed on Iran’s airbases. Scores of modern jets flew in from Iraq, fleeing the murderous coalition airstrikes on Saddam Hussein’s regime.
But the boon from Iran’s former nemesis was problematic because it could not get the spare parts or have the maintenance engineers to service them.
A decade later, other aircraft fell from the sky that proved much more suitable to Iran’s ambitions.
An Israeli Hermes UAV came down over the country then a few years later in 2011, an advanced CIA RQ170 Sentinel crashed over northern Iran. Both, along with other crashes, contributed to significantly to Iran’s drone programme.
Its clever scientists were able to reverse engineer the technology recovered from the wreckages for its burgeoning drone industry.
By 2016, it was accepted that Iran’s Shahed 129 – that bore an uncanny resemblance to the US Predator drones – could not only provide surveillance but also combat power. Equipped with guided munitions, the Shahed proved itself against ISIS in Syria although when it went up against US forces two were shot down by F15 jets.
The losses were troubling as the Iranians can only build about three are year, but by 2024 it is expected an armada of 40 Shahed 129s will be in flight.
They will be accompanied by more than 50 Mohajer medium-range drones that are also equipped with two precision-guided missiles, a laser range finder and advanced cameras.
Ironically, it is sanctions that forced Iran to develop its own successful drone industry mostly by reverse engineering equipment that it could buy on the open market or by other means. It has quickly found that drones are smart, relatively inexpensive and can carry out the work of hundreds of soldiers. Furthermore, it is a technology easily exported to its proxies allowing them to carry on Iran’s strategic aims with a degree of ‘plausible deniability’.
Without doubt, Iran has come a long way in producing drones that, while not the equal to US and Israeli counterparts, at least make it a serious and recognised player in unmanned warfare.
Experts recognise that Iran has achieved a level of real sophistication with its UAVs and is very proud of its success.
Through luck, espionage and clever engineering it has made an indigenous drone industry not seen elsewhere in the Middle East bar Israel.
While Saddam’s MiGs lie largely idle the thriving drone military industry is proving that manned aviation is a technology hurdle that Iran could skip.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Oppenheimer
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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