Defence & Security News - Iran

Iran is due to inaugurate several important air defense systems in a ceremony on Monday, December 9, 2013, attended by Commander of Iran’s Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli. “Today, Commander of Iran’s Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli will inaugurate the defensive plans which are aimed at enhancing the operational level of the country’s air defense systems in the Eastern zone,” Commander of Iran's Air Defense Zone in the East Malek Ali Asadifar said on Monday, December 9, 2013.

Commander of Iran’s Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli.

He declined to mention the specifics or name the new air defense systems, saying the new achievements and capabilities will not be unveiled to the public and the media and this is a standard procedure among the world countries.

"Today, the air defense is moving forward concurrently with new threats and what is going on around us shows that we should make the air defense ready to confront the threats not only of the present time but of the next five years," Esmayeeli said in a ceremony in Tehran at the time.

He downplayed the effects of the western sanctions on the progress of Iran's defense industry, and announced that Iran's air defense is implementing 15 operational projects now.

Also at the same time, Assadifar underlined the country's high level of military deterrence, and said the country's air defense is making rapid progress in accordance with the advancements made in hit-tech enemy fighter jets.

"The more advanced enemy fighters grow, the more sophisticated and advanced the Iranian air defense will be," he said.

The Iranian Armed Forces have recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.