Iran News.

Iran launches large air defense drill: report

English.news.cn   2010-11-17 12:55:11 ===================================================================== TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran launched one of its largest nationwide air defense drills on Tuesday to prepare against any possible attacks on its public or nuclear establishments, local media reported. Aerial defense units from the army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are taking part in the three-stage, five-day defense maneuvers dubbed "Modafean Aseman Velayat 3" (the Guardians of Islamic Skies), the local satellite Press TV said. Spokesman of the drill Brigadier General Hamid Arjangi told reporters on Tuesday that defense forces of army, IRGC, police forces and Basij militia forces have all joined the military exercise, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. At the beginning of the first stage of the exercise, "aircraft of the enemy dubbed 'Orange Forces' were identified and intercepted by our radar systems and then commands to confront the enemy were issued," Arjangi was quoted as saying. Anti-aircraft missile systems with low, mid and high altitude are used in the drill, added Arjangi. The nationwide air maneuvers, which kicked off early Tuesday, were held near Iran's "nuclear and vital landmarks" and include tests of long-range anti-air missiles, according to Press TV. The first stage of the military exercise will end on Wednesday, according to Fars. Commander of Iran's Khatamolanbia Air Defense Base for Operations Colonel Abolfazl Farmahini on Tuesday warned the enemies of Iran's powerful air defense system, stressing that the country's air defense units enjoy the capability to target any aggressive aircraft that intends to violate the country's airspace, said Fars. "Missiles and powerful air defense systems of Khatamolanbia base are ready to destroy all enemy aircraft," Farmahini told Fars. The commander pointed out that the air defense units are deployed in the country's sensitive sites, including nuclear facilities, and are ready to repel any possible enemy air raid. Meanwhile, Farmahini downplayed recent war threats against the country, saying "enemies" are incapable of waging a war on the country since any potential attack on Iran and its facilities will be reciprocated by Tehran's strong retaliatory measures, according to Fars. He also said that the air defense units will test-fire their new weapons and equipment and the Iranian forces will exercise classic and asymmetric warfare in the drills. The drills aim to enhance response capabilities in countering threats against the county's populated, vital, strategic and nuclear landmarks, said Press TV. Commander of Iran's Khatamolanbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani said Sunday the drills are part of an annual exercise that will be held with the participation of all air defense units of the country's armed forces. The specific purpose is to enhance the effectiveness of the country's anti-cruise electronic detection and weapons systems, said Miqani. Earlier in the day, Miqani announced Iran would produce an air defense radar system with a range of 3,000 km in radius. The country will also unveil a new generation of domestically developed long-range S-200 air defense missile system by next February. On Tuesday Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast warned against North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO) missile-defense shield program and said that it has raised concerns in the region. Turkey has been pushed by NATO to host the missile defense shield's radars, but it said that Turkey would seek a leading role in the missile-defense shield if it is to agree to host the system 's radars. (xinhua) ===========================================================