Iran begins annual air force drill with drones, fighter jets
Iran's air force began an annual drill Monday, state television reported, with its ageing fleet of US- and Russian-made jet fighters taking part alongside locally-made drones and other aircraft.
The drill will see forces from eight air bases take part over two days in exercises that include missile firing and mid-air refueling.
The F-14 Tomcat is still one of the chief fighters of the Iranian air force. Pictured here is a US Tomcat from the mid-1990s. Lenny Ignelzi/AP Photo
This is the second drill Iran has held since a decade-long UN arms embargo on Iran that barred it from purchasing foreign weapons like tanks and fighter jets expired earlier in October.
READ MORE: Interpol rejects Iran's arrest warrant for Trump
Iran reportedly is interested in purchasing new aircrafts, as it still flies US F-14 Tomcats alongside F-4s and F-5s dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
READ MORE: Thousands farewell Iranian general after US drone strike
The embargo expired as planned under historic 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, despite objections from the US, which unilaterally withdrew from the accord under President Donald Trump.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
