Iran to Produce Modern Combat Aircraft to Trace US, Zionist Stealth Planes
TEHRAN – A senior Iranian Air Force commander announced on Sunday that the country is planning to build a new high-tech combat aircraft capable of tracing US and Zionist modern and stealth planes.
“we will manufacture an aircraft on Saeqeh platform which will be equipped with Fourth generation (and even higher) avionics …,” Commander of Air Force’s Owj Complex Colonel HoushangMonfaredzadeh said in an exclusive interview with FNA.
He reiterated that Iran is reaching a level of expertise that it will soon be able to manufacture a totally different aircraft in terms of electronic, radar and avionic systems as well as weaponry equipment.
Asked why Saeqeh platform is used for developing new planes, Colonel Monfaredzadeh said, “In all parts of the world it is the same and they choose the platform of one of their aircraft (for developing others) and we have also selected Saeqeh for this purpose …”
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.
The country has repeatedly made it clear that its military might is merely based on the state’s defense doctrine of deterrence and that it poses no threat to other countries.
Iran’s missile capability not negotiable – Seifollahi
On the other hand, Undersecretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Reza Seifollahi said Tehran will never allow its missile and defensive capabilities to become an issue of talks with the world powers.
“Today the West knows well that it cannot negotiate about Iran’s missile power in the framework of the Group 5+1 because Iran’s missile capabilities are not negotiable,” Seifollahi said on Sunday.
He pointed to Iran’s missile deterrence power, and said, “Iran ranks first in terms of missile capabilities in the region …”
Seifollahi pointed to Iran’s redlines in nuclear talks with the West, and said, “… we cannot expose everything we have in the negotiations and the West is also in a similar position.”
In relevant remarks in August, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed that Iran’s military program was based on a defensive doctrine, but meantime said Tehran would never ask for anyone’s permission for defending itself and expanding its defense industries, implying that the nation would not discuss its missile program in talks with the world powers.
The President once again reiterated the necessity for creation of a nuclear weapons-free Middle-East, saying that all WMDs in the Middle-East should be dismantled.
Rouhani also stressed Iran’s special geopolitical conditions, and asked, “Given Iran’s position in the region and the world, is it possible to speak about stability in the region and avoid mentioning Iran? Is it possible to speak of regional welfare and development without naming Iran”?
R.S