Iran Snapshot: The Flying Saucers Are Coming!
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 10:06
Fars News Agency has reported, using the image to the left:
Iran unveiled a home-made unmanned flying saucer as well as a light sports aircraft in an exhibition of strategic technologies.
The unmanned flying saucer, named "Zohal" ["Saturn"], was unveiled in a ceremony attended by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
Zohal, designed and developed jointly by Farnas Aerospace Company and Iranian Aviation and Space Industries Association (IASIA), can be used for various missions, specially for aerial imaging.
The flying machine is equipped with an auto-pilot system, GPS (Global Positioning System) and two separate imaging systems with full HD 10 mega-pixel picture quality and is able to take and send images simultaneously. Zohal uses a small, portable navigation and monitoring center for transmission of data and images and can fly in both outdoor and indoor spaces.
The Iranian Students News Agency offers a different image:
There has been no response so far from US officials about the possible impact of this development on the current discussions over Iran's nuclear programme or even the prospect of a Flying Saucer Arms Race.
The Supreme Leader's office has also not responded to our enquiries as to whether Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered the development of a manned version of the Flying Saucer:
Reader Comments