Deputy DM: Iran Working to Increase Range of Air-Based Missiles to 300km
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian aerospace experts are working on a plan to produce a new air-launched missile which can destroy targets as far as 300km, Deputy Defense Minister and Head of Iran's Aerospace Organization General Mehdi Farahi announced on Tuesday.
"In the last 6 months, we have seen the display of the air-based Qader and Nasr missiles as well as Fakour 90 missiles," Gen. Farahi said, addressing a forum in Tehran today, and added, "The project for the production of the air-to-air Fakour 90 missiles started in the (Persian) year 1390 (March 2011-March 2012) which passed the final tests during the 10-Day Dawn celebrations (January 31-February 11 of 2013) of the (Persian) year 1391 (March 2012-March 2013)."
"A while ago, the air-based Qader missile was also fired by an F4 fighter jet and hit the target precisely after flying 200km in range," he added.
"The next stage in the Aerospace Organization is (building) an air-based 300-km missile which we will witness in the future," Farahi said.
He also referred to Iran's strategy to develop its aerospace equipment, and said, "The world is moving towards building smart missiles and pilotless fighter jets, and thus, our approach is comprised of equipping and arming drones both from offensive and defensive viewpoints."
Iran announced on Tuesday that the country's experts are building a new long-range air-to-air missile system named 'Maqsoud' (Objective).
He said that the Iranian Armed Forces are now working on 11 top level projects in the aerospace industry as well as 17 air-based weapons system production projects.
Hejazi also underlined that the targeting problem in the home-made air-based Qader (Mighty) and Nasr (Victory) missile systems has been resolved giving the Iranian Armed Forces a high maneuvering power.
"By designing and building these air-based missiles for the first time in Iran, the Air Forces' fighter jets will be equipped with advanced air-based Qader missiles with a range of over 200km and air-based Nasr missiles with a range of over 35km and their operational and deterrence power will increase powerfully," Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan told reporters at the unveiling ceremony in Tehran.
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