Navy flies drones, fires missiles in second day of drill
The Iranian Navy flew patrol, reconnaissance and bomber drones during a military drill underway in the country’s southern waters.
In the large-scale three-day exercise, codenamed Velayat-97, the unmanned aerial vehicles furnished with various bombs detonated mock enemy’s positions, Tasnim News Agency reported.
The navy’s air defense division also intercepted and annihilated intruding flying objects with a range of homegrown gear, including Misaq shoulder-fired missile.
In another operation, the hovercrafts launched ground-to-ground cruise missiles to hit targets at long distances.
The navy’s experts have recently mounted missile launchers on the hovercrafts, which used to be employed only for carrying troops in the past.
The military maneuver is being held in an area of around two million square kilometers in Iran’s southern waters, from the Strait of Hormuz to the southeastern coasts of Makran, the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.
The drill is held in four separate phases, including naval parades, simulation of a real naval war, maritime and land offense to practice recapturing the territories occupied by the enemy, and the display of the navy’s power by launching various types of missiles and torpedoes.
Also, the Tareq submarine fired an electric torpedo, and the Qadir submarine fired a homegrown Valfajr torpedo at targets, Fars News Agency reported.
On the first day of the exercise on Friday, the naval forces for the first time had used the homegrown Fateh submarine and Sahand destroyer.
Last week, Iran launched its latest state-of-the-art submarine named Fateh in the southern waters of the country in a ceremony participated by President Hassan Rouhani and Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami.
Iran’s Armed Forces hold routine military exercises throughout the year.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.