Iran unveils air defense systems
Iran unveiled two new air defense systems on Saturday manufactured by the country’s Defense Ministry’s experts.
The Arman anti-ballistic missile defense system and the Azarakhsh low-altitude air defense system were showcased during a ceremony in the capital Tehran on Saturday, attended by Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani.
Ashtiani said the Arman missile system has a medium range and a high altitude that can identify targets at 180 kilometers and engage and destroy them at 120 kilometers.
The system could take on “six targets simultaneously” while the Azarakhsh defense system can be mounted on multiple vehicle types and “uses radar, electro-optical system and thermal seekers to detect and track its target,” according to IRNA.
The Azarakhsh missile system can identify and destroy targets… up to a range of 50 kilometers, with four ready-to-fire missiles.
The Azarakhsh defense system is said to be responsible for providing close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations and/or units engaged in special or independent operations.
Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.
With the entry of new systems into the country’s defense network, the air defense capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran will increase significantly.
In June, Iran presented its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile, named Fattah, with a range of 1,400 kilometers.