Iran on Tuesday unveiled new indigenized radar systems named Keyhan and Arash 2 with the capability of intercepting all fighter jets and stealth aircraft.
Iran on Tuesday unveiled new indigenized radar systems named Keyhan and Arash 2 with the capability of intercepting all fighter jets and stealth aircraft, FARS news agency reported.
"The Keyhan radar system is a bi-dimensional radar system with the capability of discovering the distance, angle, direction and radial velocity of the targets and it has the capability of detecting and intercepting the flying targets, including conventional airplanes, stealth, high-altitude bombers and cargo aircrafts," Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli told reporters in a ceremony to unveil the new radars in Tehran today.
Elaborating on the features of Arash 2 radar system, he said, "It is a bi-dimensional solid-state radar which can cover 360 degrees and monitor and trace targets over 100,000 feet in altitude."
Esmayeeli also explained about the capabilities of FIC2 project which was unveiled Tuesday morning, and said, "This system is capable of receiving and processing the flight information taken from the country's automated air traffic control center and send the information of the flight plans of the passing flights to the air defense's command and control bases."
He also referred to another achievement of the Iranian air defense specialists as Hadi project, and said, "The Hadi project is capable of transferring the radar information to a distance of over 100km and it acts through the optical fiber systems and enjoys GPS radar, detection radar and height-specifying radar systems, and can receive information from command and control systems."
Esmayeeli had also announced on Monday that Iran is due to unveil and launch several new hi-tech radar and air defense systems with various capabilities, including trace and identification of small flying objects, this year.
"Arash 2 radar system with the capability of discovering small flying objects which is based on the world's state-of-the-art technology is one of the latest achievements" of Iran's air defense, Esmayeeli said in a press conference on the occasion of the Air Defense Day in Iran on Monday.
He described indigenization of systems and equipment as a priority for Iran's defense system, and said, "Since last year, 4 systems have become fully operational, which will be unveiled and added to the air defense cycle soon." "One of these systems is a long-range space radar with combined frequencies and the capability of discovering small flying objects and cruise missiles."
Esmayeeli also elaborated on the new defense systems built by the country's specialists, and said, "All Talash 1, 2 and 3 missile systems which enjoy the capability of engagement have been tested and will join the integrated (missile defense) network soon."
Last month senior Iranian military officials said Iran enjoys such an integrated air defense system now that no enemy flying object can approach the country's border without being noticed.
"At present, every part of the Islamic Republic of Iran's airspace is connected to the integrated air defense network and the smallest movements cannot go unnoticed by the eagle eyes of the air defense base," Lieutenant Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said.
He underlined the special importance of air defense in the country's defense system, and said, "Before the Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979) air defense was limited to protecting a number of Air Force bases and some important cities, but when the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) started and the enemy launched comprehensive attacks on all the sensitive and vital centers of the country, Iran's air defense grew on a daily basis to the point that now air defense units have been deployed in more than 3600 sites."
In relevant remarks in April, General Sabahifard said the Iranian air defense force enjoys state-of-the-art detection and interception systems and is monitoring the country's skies 24 hours a day.
"The air defense force is monitoring the country's skies day and night with the help of various state-of-the-art and indigenized radar systems and its integrated watchtower system," he told reporters at the time.
General Sabahifard underlined that the air defense force should pursue its missions with high speed and precision. "Thus, this force is rapidly enhancing its capabilities through its cooperation with the industrial sector and the universities.
Also in August, Brigadier General Sabahifard underlined the preparedness of his forces to confront any possible enemy threats.
"We monitor the airspace of the country day and night and we will not allow anyone or anything to violate our country's airspace," he said.
Earlier, General Sabahifard's boss, General Farzad Esmayeeli, announced that Iran had mounted data gathering and transmission systems on the equipment used by watchmen in its air defense sites.
"The Rassed 32 system is among the good achievements of the (Khatam ol-Anbia) Air Defense Base in surveillance and reconnaissance fields which can send the data pertaining to the direction, altitude and speed of flying targets to the control centers from 15km away," Esmayeeli said.
"Using the achievement, the watchman sends data and information about the direction, speed and altitude of flying targets to the control centers through the system fixed in his helmet or optical systems," he added.
In November 2012, different systems with the capability of intercepting incoming cruise missiles as well as optimized and indigenized air defense missiles were tested in the massive aerial exercises code-named 'Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Skies 4)'.
The advanced home-made Ya Zahra air defense missile system was among the systems tested in the wargames.
The air defense weapon is capable of identifying, intercepting and destroying aerial targets, including different types of aircraft, choppers and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Ya Zahra is a mobile system and can be linked to the country's integrated air defense network and is capable of engaging and destroying several aerial targets simultaneously and also has a powerful fast reaction and full detection capabilities.
The Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.
