Shunned by the West, Russia is hosting only a few foreign nations at its arms exhibition this week, notably including Iran, which has become an increasingly loyal customer of the Kremlin.
At the Army-2024 show outside Moscow, Tehran is prominently displaying its military capabilities in a dedicated pavilion, featuring its Mohajer-10 drone. According to state media, the Mohajer-10 is touted as one of the most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles in Iran’s fleet, sharing a similar airframe shape with the U.S.-made Reaper. Unveiled in 2023 at an expo in Iran, the drone is said to operate at altitudes of up to 24,000 feet, boasting a range of up to 1,100 miles and an impressive endurance of 24 hours.
Iranian state media quoted Kazem Jalali, the Iranian ambassador to Russia, noting that “officials in many countries are envious of the Iranian progress when they visit” the pavilion. He emphasized that Iran’s military cooperation with Russia is not aimed against any specific country or region. Such statements may be met with skepticism in Kyiv, particularly as Western nations have documented numerous instances of Russia utilizing Iranian drones—especially one-way attack UAVs from the Shahed family—to target both military and civilian sites in Ukraine. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency had previously indicated that the Mohajer-6, an earlier model, has been observed in Ukraine, easily identified by its distinctive tail design.
In addition to drones, the Islamic Republic is reportedly showcasing radar technology and electronic warfare systems at the Russian exhibition, promoting itself as an alternative supplier of cost-effective yet capable drones. Following an April drone and missile offensive against Israel—launched in retaliation for the alleged killing of Iranian military officials in Syria—experts noted that such displays were likely to appeal to foreign buyers, regardless of the attack’s limited success.
“Iran is one of the few countries that possesses a combat-proven, operational system in the category of longer-range attack suicide drones,” stated Fabian Hinz, a research fellow for Defence and Military Analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in a previous interview. “Limited options are available in the market, with a few Chinese companies beginning to develop similar systems to the Shahed, but they fall short of the original design.” Meanwhile, the CEO of Russia’s defense giant Rosoboronexport noted that the Middle East accounts for about half of the company’s export orders, with clients purchasing a variety of military assets, from air defense systems to unmanned platforms and naval equipment.
Although Russian media reported the participation of 83 nations at the arms show, only three countries other than Russia and Iran are showcasing military technology: Belarus, India, and China. The exposition is set to conclude today.
The event takes place against a backdrop of heightened tensions as the Middle East cautiously awaits Iran’s and Hezbollah’s response to alleged Israeli strikes in Beirut and Tehran approximately two weeks ago. On Monday, a joint statement was released by France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., urging Iran to de-escalate its military threats against Israel and discussing the serious implications for regional security should such an attack occur.
