New Radar Systems, Vessels for Navy

Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari stressed his forces’ ability to produce modern naval equipment, saying that the Navy will be equipped with new and more radar systems and vessels in the coming months.

“Different types of radars and surface vessels and submarines have been designed and manufactured and will be supplied to the Navy in current (Iranian) year (started March 20), “ Sayyari told reporters.

The admiral pointed to Navy’s latest accomplishments, and added, “Producing and equipping the Navy with torpedoes and different types of coast-to-sea missiles are among the latest achievements of the Army’s Navy,” Fars News Agency reported.

Navy commanders have always stressed that the country’s naval forces are capable of producing all the needed military equipment, including military vessels, submarines, torpedoes and naval missiles.

Iran’s naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy also said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.

According to the report, Iran’s Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world’s oil lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran has achieved good results in developing and producing the Iranian version of the sophisticated Russian S-300 air defense missile system. “The production of an alternative (air defense) missile system for S-300 is underway and parts of the work have been done and yielded good results so far,” Vahidi said.

He added that relevant information about the latest developments in the production of the sophisticated missile system will be announced this Iranian year. In December, a top Air Defense commander announced that the designing phase of the Iranian version of S-300 air defense missile system has ended and the system would soon be manufactured and delivered to the country’s integrated air defense network.

“The design of the system has been accomplished by local elite experts,” Brigadier General Farzad Esmaeeli said. He further said that the missile system, dubbed as Bavar (Belief) 373, is even more powerful and more advanced than the Russian S-300.Saudi Envoy Summoned Over Detainees