Iran's defense ministry has delivered the army with more than 200 new drones equipped with missile capabilities and electronic warfare systems, state media reported on Thursday. In a ceremony broadcast on television, Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani handed over "more than 200 long-range strategic drones" to army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, the official news agency IRNA said. Produced by the Iranian defence ministry, the drones are designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, and can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, IRNA said. The UAVs were received by the Iranian Army as part of a deal with the Defense Ministry to enhance the country’s combat readiness. In this regard, Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani said that "Iran will continue to enhance its drone capabilities." "He said that assessment of combat scenes brought the Defense Ministry to the conclusion that drones play a key role in the battles. Therefore, he added, measures to design and manufacture different types of drones for delivery to the Iranian Army were taken in the past years," he noted, IRNA reported.