Iran’s Navy will receive cruise missiles with a range of more
than 300 kilometers, the director of Iran’s Defense Ministry’s
Aerospace Organization said on Sunday. “The new missiles will
have “enhanced precision” and other “super advanced
capabilities,” Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi was quoted by Press
TV as saying. |
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In late April, Defense Minister Brigadier General
Ahmad Vahidi announced plans to unveil new ballistic and cruise missiles
as well as other new military achievements within the next five months.
Iran has successfully test-fired a medium range shore-to-sea ballistic
missile in the Persian Gulf as well as three new surface-to-surface
domestically produced missiles.
It test-fired the Naze'at 10 and Fajr 5 during a military exercise in
mid-March. The Fajr-5 is a long-range artillery rocket with a maximum
range of 75 kilometers (47 miles), while Naze'at-10 is a medium-range
ballistic missile capable of hitting targets within a radius of 100-300
kilometers (62-186 miles).
Iranian officials and commanders have repeatedly stressed that all tests
and training of the Iranian armed forces are only for deterrent and
self-defense purposes.
On February 10, Iran successfully tested the Fakour air-to-air missile
and on December 31, 2012 the Ra’d (Thunder) surface-to-air missile,
Press TV reported.
In July, Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced progress
in the development and manufacture of an indigenous version of the advanced
Russian S-300 air defense missile system.
Iranian military officials said the missile system, called Bavar (Belief)
373, is more powerful and advanced than the Russian S-300.
An $800 million contract to supply Iran with the Russian missile system
was signed in late 2007, under which Russia was to deliver five S-300PMU-1
battalions to Tehran. However, on September 22, 2010, Russia’s
then-President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree terminating the contract
in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which bans the supply
to Iran of conventional weapons including missiles and missile systems,
tanks, attack helicopters, warplanes and ships.
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