Iran has introduced a new reconnaissance and bomber drone called "Jas 313," which is equipped with jet engines, as the latest addition to its unmanned aerial vehicle fleet, stated media reported on April 3.

Tehran has been forced to develop its drone technologies independently of global supply chains due to the stringent US sanctions on the import of so-called "dual use" goods, which could be appropriated for military use. The drone industry has moved at such pace that other countries, including Russia, Tajikistan and Yemen, have used Iranian-produced drones in their theatres of war, including Ukraine, with the Shahed drone. 

The Jas 313 drone, inspired by the design of Iran's Qaher fighter jet, represents a new development in the country's drone programme. It was unveiled during a ceremony that included the commissioning of the Shahid Bahman Bagheri drone carrier vessel.

According to Iranian military officials, the drone can fly at high altitudes up to 13,700 metres (45,000 feet) and reach speeds of Mach 0.8. It features an aerodynamic design with a blended wing-body configuration.

The new aircraft has approximately one hour of flight endurance and can conduct both reconnaissance and bombing missions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, called the drone "a symbol of Iran's defence industry leap." He stated the drone can be deployed in "long-range strike operations" against enemy military bases, Mehr News Agency reported.

His comments come as Iran and the US negotiate via third parties over Tehran's nuclear programme, with diplomats including Steve Wiktoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi openly tweeting to each other. 

Amir Afshin Khajehfard, head of the Armed Forces Aerospace Industry Organisation, described the Jas 313 as "a strategic drone that uses artificial intelligence for battlefield data processing and semi-automatic decision-making."

The drone is currently undergoing flight tests on the Shahid Bagheri drone carrier vessel and will be fully operational soon, according to Iranian officials.

The Jas 313 joins Iran's existing drone arsenal that includes the Shahed, Karrar, Ababil and other models, forming what Iranian military leaders call an "integrated drone network" capable of covering strategic maritime chokepoints and is expected to be based on Iran’s first drone carrier made from a converted oil tanker.

The Shahid Bagheri vessel features a 180-metre flight deck and can operate in high seas for up to a year without refuelling, with an operational range of 22,000 nautical miles (40,744 km), Tangsiri said in February at the commissioning ceremony in Bandar Abbas.

"This ship can carry multiple squadrons of unmanned aircraft, launch and recover combat drones and deploy various patrol and combat UAVs as well as military helicopters," Tangsiri said, adding that the vessel took two years to convert from a commercial ship.

Iran claims, the warship is equipped with extensive combat capabilities including short and medium-range air defence systems, cruise missiles and electronic warfare systems. It also said it can deploy guided subsurface vessels and features a complete signals intelligence suite.