Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) displayed on Sunday latest achievements in air defense technology, including fighter and transport aircraft, helicopters as well as unmanned aerial vehicles

Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) displayed on Sunday latest achievements in air defense technology, including fighter and transport aircraft, helicopters as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with the presence of President Hasan Rouhani.

Rouhani visited a Defense Ministry exhibition showcasing the latest achievements in the air defense industry, including the domestically-built Bavar-373 air defense system on the occasion of National Defense Industry Day.

Accompanied by Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, the president was briefed on the progress in the designing and manufacturing of the first national Turbojet engine.

The Iranian chief executive further visited different sectors involved in the production of the long-range Bavar-373 air defense system, which has been designed and constructed by Defense Ministry scientists and experts with the cooperation of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base as well as scientific and investigative centers.

The system was designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles, according to earlier statements by Dehghan.

The project was launched as an alternative to the Russian S-300 system, the delivery of which was suspended in 2010 due to sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program.

“We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300 -- we wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it,” Dehghan told the IRNA news agency over the weekend.

In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.