Iran Focus
The first tests involved four homemade hi-tech artillery rocket style missiles, being tested by Iran’s military for the first time, and newly updated air-to-surface missiles.
Speaking in reference to the artillery rockets Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force, General Kioumars Heidari, told reporters on Monday: “These (home-made) missiles have been named Fajr 5 and are part of the Fajr-class missiles. The missiles have not been tested in any previous war games. They were tested for the first time in Vellayat 89 exercise zone.”
Coinciding with these tests, Iran’s Phantom fighter jets successfully test fired newly updated air-to-surface missiles, officials said. The missiles are said to have been upgraded by experts within the Jihad department of the Iranian Air Force, with hi-tech advances said to have increased the missiles’ range, fuel and navigation systems.
“The new missiles have been loaded onto the Army’s fighter jets with modifications and updates in their parts. They had a wholly successful performance today,” Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Air Force for Operations, General Seyed Mohammad Alawi, said on Monday.
Iran is further said to have equipped its fighter jets with updated electronic warfare systems. Earlier Monday Iranian Special Forces tested the domestically-built ‘Misaq’ shoulder-launched missile.
While the military continued its manoeuvres, one Iranian MP boasted of Tehran’s ability to destroy US warships in the Persian Gulf.
“The Islamic Iran has the ability to sink the United States’ warships in the Persian Gulf, and this will be a simple task in view of Iran’s advanced military weapons,” claimed Seyed Ahmad Avaei, a member of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.
Iran’s war games are due to end Wednesday.
