Iran Successfully Tests New Air-to-air Missile

Tehran, Feb 11, IRNA - Iran had tested its latest home-made air-to-air missile dubbed as Fakour 90 last week, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister and Head of Iranˈs Aerospace Organization General Mehdi Farahi said on Saturday night. ˈFakour 90 was fired from F14 fighter jets,ˈ General Farahi said, and added, ˈQader and Nasr air-based cruise missiles will be tested in near future.ˈ Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri announced last week that Iranˈs armed forces plan to unveil its latest achievements in the production of armored vehicles, missiles and aircraft in the next few days. He said that new achievements will be unveiled during the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies from January 31 to February 10 marking the victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979. ˈIn addition to new home-made fighter jets, new missile advancements will be displayed in the coming days,ˈ Jazzayeri mentioned, adding that the new missiles produced by Iranian experts have different ranges. ˈDuring the Ten-Day Dawn new tanks and armored vehicles will also be unveiled,ˈ he added. Elsewhere, the commander underlined Iranˈs armed forcesˈ capability to chase and hit enemies in long distances, adding that Iran will announce its capabilities in due time. Last month, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that his ministry would display several defense achievements in the next few days. The minister informed that a space observing base or space observatory, dubbed as ˈImam Sadeqˈ, will be inaugurated during the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies, adding that the base will be tasked with monitoring the countryˈs expeditionary space missions. The Iranian minister further announced that Iran would unveil the latest home-made fighter jets in the coming days, and said, ˈThe aircraft will be different from the other fighter jets that Iran has already made.ˈ He added that important projects are underway in missile fields and will be announced later. Iran has also taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes. Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the countryˈs military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country./end