IRGC: Iran's Defense Industry Symbol Of Country's Might, National Production

Tehran, Aug 21, IRNA – Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a communiqué on August 21st, Defense Industry Day, attributing Iran's deterrence power to Jihadi and prestigious efforts of combination of system's defense generation apparatus in the Army and IRGC. According to a Monday report by Public Relations of the IRGC, the communiqué states, 'The element which has after the elapse of over three decades from the victory of the Islamic Revolution contributed to the blossoming and dynamism of our defense industries and intimidation of the enemies of the Islamic system and the Iranian nation, is the highly illuminated path laid by Imam Khomeini (P) and his well-doer successor, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamene'ie) before the Iranian nation and the armed forces.' The communiqué points out that this path is the way on whose forehead the triangle of piety, self confidence, and self sufficiency shines, adding, 'At the scene of the country's defense industry advantage is taken of the talents and creativity of the country's thinkers and technicians, and we have reached a point where this scene is today an exhibition of grandeur, dynamism, friskiness, compatibility, and might for meeting the needs the country's armed forces.' Elsewhere the communiqué said, 'Elevating the production capacity in various sections, growth of the elite expertise volume, development of the science-based networks, and increased access to advanced defense terminals and technologies are among the country's defense industry's capabilities and achievements.' The communiqué continues stressing the role of defense sciences and industries in the process of the country's development and elevation, highlighting the immense and eye-catching advancements achieved by the technicians in defense industry field, particularly under the imposed threats and sanctions. The IRGC Communiqué adds, 'Despite the full scale enmity of the oppression front and the global oppression system against the Iranian nation and the chain of sanctions during the past 33 years, the field of defense industries has taken advantage of the existing potentials and cradles, as well as the capabilities of its own creative forces, providing the basic requirements and defense needs of the country.' The communiqué continues, 'The defense industry has in this period meanwhile set the foundations of a strong and mighty structure in this field, challenging the oppressor powers that are armed with superior advanced technologies and pushed them towards a pacifist stand.' The Revolutionary Guards have in latter parts of this communiqué congratulated the anniversary of the Defense Industry Day to the minister, the managers and the talented, hardworking, vicegerency-oriented, revolutionary, selfless, and pride inspiring technicians, elite thinkers, and employees of the affiliated and dependent organizations. Emphasis is made in this communiqué that Jihadi, Basiji (volunteer mobilization force), creative and innovative mentality of the combination of Ministry of Defense and Logistical Affairs of Armed Forces, and the operationalizing of their achievements in such fields as the missile industry, air force, navy, communications and electronics, munitions, weaponry, armored and tactical vehicles, and dozens of other cases at the scenes of the IRI Army and the IRGC missions, have placed the country's defense industries in the position of the Islamic Republic's symbol of national might and production. At the end of this note we read, 'This Jihadi mentality broadcasts this major message that the offspring of the mature and combatant Iranian nation in performance of their sensitive prophecy of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country and the ideals and values of the Islamic Revolution are always ready for selfless endeavors, sacrificing their lives, and creating everlasting and fate making epics in combat against the enemies. Since the Iraqi imposed war, Tehran has been steadily expanding its missile arsenal. The country has also invested heavily in its own industries and infrastructure to lessen dependence on unreliable foreign sources. It is now able to fully produce its own missiles. Iran has demonstrated that it can also significantly expand the range of acquired missiles, as it has done with Nodong missiles from North Korea, which it then renamed. Iran’s missiles can already hit any part of the Middle East, including Israel. Over time, Tehran has established the capacity to create missiles to address a full range of strategic objectives. Iran’s expanding arsenal The Islamic Republic’s arsenal now includes several types of short-range and medium-range missiles. Estimates vary on specifics. But there is widespread consensus that Tehran has acquired and creatively adapted foreign technology to continuously increase the quality and quantity of its arsenal. It has also launched an ambitious space program that works on some of the same technology. The arsenal includes: Shahab missiles: Since the late 1980s, Iran has purchased additional short- and medium-range missiles from foreign suppliers and adapted them to its strategic needs. The Shahabs, Persian for “meteors,” were long the core of Iran’s program. They use liquid fuel, which involves a time-consuming launch. They include: The Shahab-1 is based on the Scud-B. (The Scud series was originally developed by the Soviet Union). It has a range of about 300 kms or 185 miles. The Shahab-2 is based on the Scud-C. It has a range of about 500 kms, or 310 miles. In mid-2010, Iran is widely estimated to have between 200 and 300 Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles capable of reaching US targets in neighboring countries. The Shahab-3 is based on the Nodong, which is a North Korean missile. It has a range of about 900 km or 560 miles. It has a nominal payload of 1,000 kg. A modified version of the Shahab-3, renamed the Ghadr-1, began flight tests in 2004. It theoretically extends Iran’s reach to about 1,600 km or 1,000 miles, which qualifies as a medium-range missile. But it carries a smaller, 750-kg warhead. Although the Ghadr-1 was built with key North Korean components, defense minister of the time Ali Shamkhani said at the time, “Today, by relying on our defense industry capabilities, we have been able to increase our deterrent capacity against the military expansion of our enemies.” Sejjil missiles: Sejjil means “baked clay” in Persian. These are a class of medium-range missiles that use solid fuel, which offer many strategic advantages. They are less vulnerable to preemption because the launch requires shorter preparation – minutes rather than hours. Iran is the only country to have developed missiles of this range without first having developed nuclear weapons. This family of missiles centers on the Sejjil-2, a domestically produced surface-to-surface missile. It has a medium-range of about 2,200 km or 1,375 miles when carrying a 750-kg warhead. It was test fired in 2008 under the name Sejjil. The Sajjil-2, which is probably a highly modified version, began test flights in 2009. This missile would allow Iran to “target any place that threatens Iran,” according to Brigadier General Abdollah Araghi, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander. The Sejjil-2, which became operational before 2012, is the most likely most effective weapon in Iran's domestic missile defense system. The Sejjil program’s success indicates that Iran’s long-term missile acquisition plans are likely to focus on solid-fuel systems. They are more compact and easier to deploy on mobile launchers. They require less time to prepare for launch, making them less vulnerable to preemption by aircraft or other missile defense systems. Iran can use Sejjil technologies to produce a three-stage missile capable of flying 3,700 km or 2,200 miles. Courtesy: Iran Primer, for the background on Iran's missile capabilities /end