Iran upgrading subs, drones, F-14 radars

TEHRAN, May 1 (UPI) -- An Iranian military commander Sunday announced a number of high-tech upgrades, including submarines equipped with home-made missile launchers.

Iran's Fars News Agency said the Islamic Republic was developing a submarine missile system at the same time it was upgrading the radars on its F-14 fighters and expanding the capabilities of its fledgling aerial drones.

Rear Adm. Farhad Amiri told Fars the Iranian-developed missile launchers would give his subs a capability beyond the current torpedo armament in about two years.

The project specifically creates the fire-control data capabilities necessary for missile launches.

"To fire a missile from a submarine, the target and missile-launch specifications need to be sent to the submarine very fast, and this communication technology is currently being developed," Amiri said.

The Iranian army is in the process of expanding the range and electronics capabilities of the unmanned aerial vehicles it deployed last year. The project includes adding missile capabilities to unmanned aerial vehicles currently limited to reconnaissance tasks.

Meantime, the Iranian air force is upgrading its F-14s with advanced radar. Brigadier Gen. Ahmad Migani told Fars the new radars were developed in Iran and would replace Western units.

"Our radars used to be mainly American and British … who were thus, fully informed of their blind spots."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/01/Iran-upgrading-subs-drones-F-14-radars/UPI-29511304266214/.