Iran’s homegrown tactical air defense system can hit dozen targets at once: Military official

Afshin Naderi-Sharif, Iran’s deputy defense minister for research and industrial affairs, on Tuesday described the homegrown military gear as a deployable medium-range ground-based system, with special privileges over similar ones.

Naderi-Sharif noted that Tactical Sayyad air defense system is furnished with short-range self-protection capabilities in comparison with Khordad-3 and Khordad-15 systems.

He underlined that the self-protection system is fitted in one of the missile turrets of the air defense system, making the weapon immune to potential low-altitude threats.

The official noted that the new air defense system enjoys greater mobility as its radars and missile launchers have been incorporated into a single vehicle.

Naderi-Sharif explained that Tactical Sayyad can detect and track 24 targets at a distance of 180 kilometers (111 miles) away and simultaneously deal with six to 12 targets within a range of 120 kilometers (74.5 miles).

IRGC Navy to take delivery of new submarines

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy will soon take delivery of the new generation of two homegrown submarines.

An informed source at the Iranian Ministry of Defense said the naval force will receive new variants of Qadir and Fateh submarines in the near future,

The source explained that new submarines have been designed and manufactured by the Marine Industries Organization of the ministry.

Ghadir is a medium-sized submarine that has already been deployed by Iranian naval forces. It has been improved several times over the years and is now capable of launching cruise missiles.

The submarine is built specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The 29-meter seacraft weighs 115 tons and can largely evade radar systems. It is equipped with two long-range torpedo tubes with a diameter of 533 millimeters, enabling it to launch anti-ship cruise missiles.

Fateh (Conqueror) submarine, on the other hand, is considered to be more advanced than Ghadir. It has joined the Iranian naval forces’ fleet to beef up coastal defense. The 527-ton submersible is a semi-heavy one.

It can go as deep as 200 meters down and can navigate under the water for at least 35 days.

Fateh, which is said to be 43.5 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, is equipped with four 533-millimeter torpedo launchers and can also carry 8 naval mines.

Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities.