Iran Tests Radar, Missile Systems in Air Defense Drills

Iran has tested new radar and missile systems in a series of tactical air defense drills, codenamed ‘Mesbah Al-Hoda’, in the Southern parts of the country, Lieutenant Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard announced on Saturday.
“This stage of Mesbah Al-Hoda (Lantern of Guidance) military drills was held concentrating on Kish air defense group, and radar, missile, artillery and electronic systems (as well as watchtowers) were tested in different combat scenarios,” General Sabahifard said. He underlined that all systems proved high levels of efficiency in the drills.

General Sabahifard explained that Mesbah Al-Hoda exercises are comprised of several phases. “The drills have been designed for all air defense zones throughout the country,” he said, and added that each air defense zone is tasked with conducting the drills and evaluating the personnel and air defense systems throughout the year.

“Given the variety of the scenarios considered for these exercises and considering that they have been designed to deal with everyday threats they can assess and evaluate the preparedness level of the personnel and systems against all types of threats in a pragmatic way, and hence result in boosting the combat and operational capabilities of air defense units in the country,” General Sabahifard stressed.

Earlier this year, Sabahifard underlined the preparedness of his forces to confront any possible enemy threats, saying “We monitor the airspace of the country day and night and we will not allow anyone or anything to violate our country’s airspace.”

Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base General Farzad Esmayeeli announced in April that Iran has mounted data gathering and transmission systems on the equipment used by watchmen in its air defense sites.

“The Rassed 32 system is among the good achievements of the (Khatam ol-Anbia) Air Defense Base in surveillance and reconnaissance fields which can send the data pertaining to the direction, altitude and speed of flying targets to the control centers from 15km away,” the commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base said.

“Using the achievement, the watchman sends data and information about the direction, speed and altitude of flying targets to the control centers through the system fixed in his helmet or optical systems,” he added.

The Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Source: Fars News Agency

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