Top Iranian air defense commanders announced Monday, June 13, 2011, that Iran (Iranian army air defense unit) has "successfully " test-fired a new home-made air defense system, called Mersad. The Mersad system uses domestically manufactured Shahin missiles based on Hawk missile. The Shahin are even more advanced than the 1970s-era United States-manufactured Hawk missiles.

Commander of Khatam-ol-Anbia Air Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said that Mersad air defense system and Shahin missiles - fired by Mersad systems - have been successfully test-fired and supplied to the country's air defense unit.

The ground-to-air Shahin missile is able to hit enemy jet fighters and helicopters at supersonic speed. The Mersad system is equipped with sophisticated radar signal processing technology, an advanced launcher, and electronic targeting and guidance systems.

Esmayeeli also said that Iran's radar network has been optimized and is currently in a "very suitable" condition.

The two Shahin missiles were launched from the home-made Mersad air defense system.

The Shahine missile is based on the American made Hawk missile, but has a longer range and more destructive power, and can fly at higher altitude and hit modern aircrafts flying at low and medium altitudes.