2011-02-10
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah Safi announced that the country plans to test its experience and capabilities outside the country's borders by staging joint military exercises with allies.
"The Air Force is set to test its experience and capabilities outside the borders of Iran next [Iranian] year in joint and compound military maneuvers with allies, employing new schemes," Shah Safi said on Wednesday.
He also outlined the main operations of the Air Force in the current year, including shooting down two Western spy planes in the Persian Gulf, controlling speedboats in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, supporting other sectors of the Armed Forces, and carrying out military exercises.
The Iranian commander praised achievements and new productions of the Air Force.
"The successful test firing of precision-guided smart bombs has been a great development in the Air Force and the 'Sofreh Mahi' radar-evading stealth drone's technical and aerodynamic design and test flights has been completed so far," he told Air Force commanders.
General Shah Safi also noted that the Air Force has equipped its unmanned drones with cameras capable of taking photographs in day and night time and has also upgraded them.
Describing all sanctions against Iran as ineffective, he said, "I proudly announce that thanks to the sanctions, the zealous employees of the IRIAF have overhauled and refurbished all types of aircraft, from 747's to F-14 fighter jets."
The commander reiterated that the Iranian military has also improved its counterattack capabilities by conducting various maneuvers.
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 country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.
Iran successfully tested a home-made radar-evading Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with bombing capabilities in June. Also in 2008, the country's Defense Industries launched production lines of two well-known home-made fighter jets, namely Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) and Azarakhsh (Lightening).
The country displayed the first squadron of Saeqeh fighter jets produced by its defense industries in an air show staged during military parades at the beginning of the Week of Sacred Defense in late September.
The Iranian Air Force produced a new training fighter jet named 'Kosar' in September which is a joint production of the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces' Aviation Industries.
Source: FARS News Agency.
Link: http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8911210856.
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