The Flight of Homegrown UAV Technologies: From Smart Farming to Regulatory Milestones

Tehran - BORNA - As the world accelerates toward the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, Iran has also taken significant steps in developing and localizing its civilian drone industry—from the production of specialized UAVs for smart agriculture to the recent ratification of comprehensive legislation regulating this technology. This report provides an in-depth overview of Iran’s key achievements, capabilities, products, and the legal framework shaping the future of its drone ecosystem.

UAVs Enter the Realm of Transformational Technologies

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have revolutionized data collection and operational efficiency across various sectors in the past decade. These remote-controlled flying systems enable high-risk, complex missions without the need for human presence, offering applications in defense, security, environmental monitoring, disaster response, urban services, mining exploration, and notably, precision agriculture.

Over the last two decades, Iran’s UAV industry has emerged as a regional leader, driven by domestic scientific and technological capabilities, supported by knowledge-based companies and universities. Iranian-made UAVs are now capable of performing reconnaissance, mapping, spraying, imaging, seeding, and environmental surveillance with high precision.

Achieving Self-Sufficiency in Agricultural Drones

One of the key beneficiaries of Iran’s UAV advancements has been the agricultural sector. Facing climate challenges, water scarcity, and the need to improve productivity, smart farming has increasingly relied on drones as a critical tool. These agricultural UAVs are equipped with multispectral cameras, NDVI sensors, precise GPS systems, and automated spraying tanks.

Designed and produced by over 10 specialized knowledge-based firms, these drones provide detailed data on plant health, pest distribution, soil temperature, water needs, and vegetative coverage. Their precision seeding and spraying capabilities enhance land efficiency and reduce the consumption of water and chemical inputs.

According to official reports, the establishment of agricultural technology villages during the 13th administration led to a fourfold increase in the number of active agricultural drones. This reflects a strong commitment to adopting advanced technologies in farming.

As of now, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology reports that 225 licensed knowledge-based companies are active in the civilian UAV sector, with over 500 involved in agricultural applications.

Twelve Iranian-Made UAVs: A Showcase of Domestic Capability

Here are 12 notable examples of domestically developed UAVs, each with specific applications and technical advantages:

• Saman Drone: 20 km flight range, thermal and multispectral cameras, suitable for urban mapping and natural resource monitoring.

• Bardia Drone: Agricultural UAV with 10-liter payload, capable of spraying up to 5 hectares, ideal for large farms and orchards.

• Kavoshgar Drone: Designed for emergency and rescue operations, equipped with Live View and a 10 km image transmission range.

• Zarrin Parvaz Drone: Fixed-wing drone with 120-minute flight duration and sub-5 cm photogrammetry precision, used in roadwork and agriculture.

• Sabz Parvaz Drone: Engineered for seeding on sloped lands, night flight capable, and wind-resistant.

• Simorgh Drone: High-precision mapping capabilities and reduced manpower requirements, suited for difficult terrains.

• Ario Drone: Aerospace composite build, supports thermal imaging, launches without runway, parachute-assisted landing.

• Zagros Drone: Operates at 1,000 feet, 1.5 kg payload capacity, recovered via net or belly landing.

• Karen Drone: Focuses on domestically produced parts, including connectors and wiring, meets international standards.

• Solar Drone: Can fly continuously for up to 4 hours using solar energy, applicable for surveillance and green imaging.

• Networked Docking UAVs (DIB): Designed for remote, continuous monitoring and mineral imaging.

• Postal Drone: Enables fast delivery of parcels with pre-programmed flight routes.

Regulatory Framework: A Turning Point in UAV Governance

On June 28, 2025, the Iranian Parliament ratified the "Civilian UAV Regulation Act" (officially titled: Law on the Organization and Use of Non-Military Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems). This marks the first comprehensive legal framework specifically tailored for civilian UAVs in the country.

This act is a major achievement of Iran’s 14th administration, representing years of legal vacuum finally resolved through multi-stakeholder consultations, technical studies, and persistent lobbying by industry players.

Key Classifications Under the Act:

• Service UAVs: Designed for non-military missions in agriculture, environment, emergency services, public utilities, and communications. Maximum allowed flight altitude is 500 meters AGL (above ground level).

• Recreational/Sport UAVs: Limited to a 1,000-meter radius and 100-meter altitude, with no advanced navigation or data systems.

• Toy UAVs: Under 200 grams in weight, with a maximum altitude of 50 meters, and equipped only with low-resolution cameras.

Crucial Legal Provisions:

• Article 4: All licenses for UAV operation, training, maintenance, and commercial usage are subject to mandatory security vetting and must be approved by the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran.

• Article 6: The importation of civilian UAVs and related components is banned unless explicitly authorized by the Civil Aviation Organization and national security bodies.

• Article 9: All UAVs must be registered in a national registry with a unique ownership certificate containing serial number, technical specifications, and owner's personal information. Technical alterations are only legal with prior approval.

• Article 16: Scientific data collection using UAVs—including photogrammetry, geophysical mapping, and radiometric surveying—is strictly regulated and requires special licenses.

• Article 22: The executive bylaws of the law must be drafted within three months from its enactment. The Ministry of Defense, in coordination with relevant ministries, will prepare the bylaws, which will be finalized upon approval by the General Staff of the Armed Forces and ratification by the Cabinet.

Dedicated Role of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy

The Act outlines a proactive mandate for the Vice Presidency, particularly in fostering domestic innovation. Under Article 4, Note 2, the Vice Presidency is responsible for:

• Collaborating with the Ministries of Industry, Agriculture, and Defense to establish frameworks that facilitate the transfer of UAV design and production knowledge from military to civilian and knowledge-based companies.

• Coordinating with the Ministry of Industry and the Civil Aviation Organization to develop legal and operational mechanisms for the export of domestically developed UAV products and services. These mechanisms must be reviewed and approved by the UAV Working Group under Article 3.

• Supporting the indigenization and domestic development of cutting-edge UAV technologies and ensuring access for qualified knowledge-based firms and research institutions.

• Facilitating the import licensing process for final UAV models and spare parts exclusively for verified knowledge-based firms, universities, and R&D centers.

Shokri’s Commentary on the Strategic Importance of Legislation

In an interview with Borna News on May 10, 2025, Hossein Shokri, Secretary of the Headquartersfor Knowledge-Based Aerospace, Transport, and Urban Development Economy, emphasized the significance of the UAV Law. He noted the widespread applicability of drones in smart farming, aerial surveying, infrastructure monitoring, and natural resource management.

According to Shokri, this legal framework can dramatically empower private firms, eliminate bureaucratic uncertainties, and accelerate the path to a robust, export-capable UAV industry grounded in knowledge-based innovation.

 From Legal Gaps to a Strategic Leap: Iran’s UAV Law and the Road to a Technological and Economic Breakthrough

While long overdue, the enactment of the UAV Law marks a transformative moment for Iran’s technological and legal landscape. With its clearly defined provisions for design, operation, licensing, and export, the Act gives stakeholders legal certainty and the tools to expand confidently into domestic and international markets.

The enactment of the Law for the Regulation of Civilian Drones on June 28, 2025 (8 Tir 1404), marks a pivotal, though long-delayed, milestone in Iran’s journey toward embracing advanced technologies. This law not only addresses the long-standing legal and structural voids in the UAV sector, but also lays out a coherent framework that facilitates innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and exports for all stakeholders.

With the legalization of all aspects of UAV activity—from design and production to education, flight, and export—knowledge-based companies, universities, and private actors now enjoy stronger legal security. They can operate without facing administrative deadlocks or unclear legal procedures. This development not only strengthens trust within Iran’s innovation ecosystem but also opens doors to international markets, allowing domestic drone technologies to enter global innovation chains.

In a global context where many countries are still struggling to define or update drone regulations, Iran is now among a small number of nations with a comprehensive legal framework for non-military UAVs. This is particularly crucial as the use of drones continues to expand rapidly across sectors such as precision agriculture, crisis management, urban logistics, environmental monitoring, and smart cities.

What’s more, this legislation—recently passed after years of advocacy by industry stakeholders—represents a major policy success for Iran’s innovation ecosystem. With strong backing from the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and various executive agencies, it transforms the demands of drone developers into tangible legal instruments. The framework could now serve as a model for other tech-driven industries that still operate in regulatory grey zones.

Going forward, the true success of this law depends on rigorous implementation, effective oversight, and continuous updating in line with technological progress. If executed properly, civilian drones could become strategic drivers of Iran’s smart agriculture, advanced transportation systems, disaster response, environmental safety, and even technological diplomacy.

Ultimately, the law’s significance lies not just in its legal content but in its capacity to mature this emerging industry. With clearly defined licenses, UAV classifications, flight registration, and ownership certification, the path is now paved for transparent, safe, and scalable drone operations in Iran.

According to Article 22 of the law, its executive bylaw must be drafted within three months of enforcement by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with relevant ministries, and approved by the Supreme Armed Forces General Staff and the Cabinet. However, this is just the beginning. The essential question remains: will this legal mechanism be fully and effectively implemented—and will it succeed in guiding Iran’s civilian drone industry toward a secure, sovereign, and innovative future?

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