"The plan has been drawn by the personnel of the
Air Defense Base and completed in the General Staff of
the Armed Forces and will be put into action in a five-year-long
period once it is approved by the General Commander of
the Armed Forces (Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei)," Salehi said.
He also reiterated that the Army will make its utmost
efforts to produce the tools, weapons and equipment needed
for defending the country's airspace during the aforementioned
period.
In February 2009, Iran formed an Air Defense Force as
a part of its Air Force restructuring to boost the country's
defense capabilities.
In April 2010, Iranian Defense Minister announced that
Iran had built the first home-made mid-range missile defense
system named 'Mersad'. The Mersad system uses domestically
manufactured Shahin missiles, which are even more advanced
than the 1970s-era U.S.-manufactured Hawk missiles.The
Hawk missile has a range of 15 miles with a 119-pound
warhead. The Mersad system is also equipped with sophisticated
radar signal processing technology, an advanced launcher,
and electronic equipment for guidance and target acquisition.
In May 2010, Iran inaugurated the production line of a
powerful missile defense shield which can destroy incoming
cruise missiles, the Mesbah 1. This air defense system
is designed and built to counter air attacks, different
kinds of airplanes, cruise missiles, choppers and other
air threats in low altitudes.
Meantime, Air Defense Commander of Iran's Southern Zone
General Qanbar Ali Salahian told FNA in June that Iran's
home-made air defense system is so sophisticated and advanced
that it can show swift and precise reaction to any possible
threat and aggression by enemies.
Referring to the capabilities of the air defense system
in his zone, he said that at present a new Iranian radar
system has replaced its western rivals in the Southern
zone which can cover the entire Persian Gulf region.
