Israel Matzav

Iran claims new air defense system

Iran is claiming that it has developed a new air defense system that is designed "to counter air attacks, different kinds of airplanes, cruise missiles, choppers and other air threats in low altitudes." It claims to have inaugurated a production line for the system on Tuesday (Hat Tip: Will).

"The defense system has been designed on the basis of increasing the volume of fire and controlling it by a reliable system," [Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad] Vahidi added.

He said high destruction power, decreased number of the needed crew in comparison with similar defense artilleries, rapid reaction against threats, high volume of fire with 4,000 shots per minute and increased targeting precision are among the major features of the newly produced defense system.

Vahidi reminded that the Mesbah 1 missile shield is also capable of tracing and intercepting Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs).

Vahidi had announced on Sunday that his ministry produced a powerful anti-missile system to destroy incoming cruise missiles.

"Experts at the defense ministry have succeeded in building a short-range air-defense artillery system that is able to fire 4,000 shots per minute," Vahidi said in an interview with FNA.

"The system has been produced to confront military threats flying at low altitudes such as cruise missiles," the minister went on saying.

Vahidi stressed that the system will officially start operation in the near future.

He also pointed out that the ministry is working on different short-range, mid-range and long-range air-defense systems.

Hey guys - what ever happened to that S-300 you were supposed to be buying from the Russians (pictured)? Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:15 PM