Iran successfully tests its first vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone

Iran has successfully tested its first vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, dubbed “Koker-1″, and will officially unveil it on the Kish Island in the next calendar month of Azar , Mehr news agency reported. The drone reportedly uses ultra-advanced technology and has been manufactured in Iran for the first time. The “Koker-1″ drone does not require runways at all and can take off and land vertically, experts said. It is capable to fly continuously for three hours within a radius of 170 kilometers at 12,000 feet height in different climatic conditions. According to earlier reports, Iranian experts have also built another radar-evading drone, named “Liko”, with the capacity of carrying 100 kg of cargo for 100 kilometers. “Liko” is also capable of non-stop flights for three hours. The 53-kg UAV can fly at an altitude of 16,000 feet and requires the shortest landing runway length. Iran’s first indigenous long-range drone “Karrar” was unveiled in August 2010. “Karrar” is capable of carrying a military payload of rockets to carry out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a very high speed, and gathering information