"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.