"We have made good progress in developing
HQ and S200 systems. Our S200 systems were active for a
few hours a day but we have managed to turn it to a 24-hour
system," Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base
Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani told a news conference today.
"The second optimization phase of the system will
be carried out in (the Iranian calendar month of) Bahman
(January 21- February 19, 2011) this year. In this phase
the radar system of the S200 missiles will be boosted
and will be made fully digital," Miqani noted.
S-200 system is a very long range, medium-to-high altitude
surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to defend
large areas from bomber attack or other strategic aircrafts.
Each battalion has 6 single-rail missile launchers and
fire control radar. It can be linked to other, longer-range
radar systems.
Each missile is launched by 4 solid-fueled strap-on rocket
boosters. Maximum range is between 200 and 350 km depending
on the model. The missile uses radio illumination mid-course
correction to fly towards the target with a terminal semi
active radar homing phase.
Tehran launched an arms development program during the
1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a
US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its
own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter
planes.
Yet, 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.
In November 2009, Lieutenant Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia
Air Defense Base General Seyed Reza Taheri told FNA that
Iran has successfully increased the speed and range of
its air defense systems.
"The air defense systems' operational speed and
range have been promoted thanks to the attempts made by
our country's experts. We are witnessing a jump in this
field when considering the previous models," the
Commander said at the time.
