Iran shows air defense systems prowess off

TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (MNA) – Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base has introduced the air defense systems used in Mohammad the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) drill launched Thursday. Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaeili noted that Samen I System had been unveiled in 2012 and developed in the southeast of the country in 2013, adding that a much more advanced and upgraded version of this system under the name of Samen II has been tested and evaluated during the Thursday joint war game. “Samen II is much lighter than its previous version and has a much improved range. It can also be used to counter electromagnetic waves,” explained Brig. General Esmaeili. He also announced the testing of Fath II System during the war game adding that the system was ‘notable for its being tactical.’ “In the electronic warfare which has been greatly stressed upon by the Leader, Seraj System with exceptional superiority and capabilities will be deployed in the southeast,” said Esmaeili, noting that the system was first unveiled in the industry sector and is now being used in identification and discovery. “Seraj will be used to divert attacking missiles and the hypothetical enemy’s drones,” he added. Brig. General Esmaeili also highlighted the army’s utilization of completely domestic medium altitude air defense missile systems such as Shalamcheh and Mersad, and announced the unveiling of Sayyad 40 and Rasad 32 surveillance systems. Before this, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (IRIA) held war games separately. This year based on the statements of the Leader, the four units have gathered to display IRIA’s coordination and integration in a joint massive war game titled Mohammad the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). According to Brig. General Abdorrahim Mousavi, the Prophet Mohammad drill has been designed and coordinated based on real threats and by utilizing real military equipment. The joint massive war game of IRIA named Prophet Mohammad the Messenger of Allah was launched on Dec. 25 and will run for six days, covering a 2.2 million square kilometers from the east of the Strait of Hormuz down to the Gulf of Aden. A panel of experts has been taking part in the war game to evaluate the performance of the participating forces. The power of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile defense systems is put on display by launching surface-to-surface missiles, air-to-sea missiles, air-to-surface, and land-to-sea missiles.