Iran tests home-grown air defense system

TEHRAN: Iran has tested its homegrown air defense system, designed to match the Russian S-300, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ air defense has said.

“In parallel with the deployment of the S-300, work on Bavar373 system is underway,” Farzad Esmaili told state broadcaster IRIB late Saturday.

“The system is made completely in Iran and some of its parts are different from the S-300. All of its sub-systems have been completed and its missile tests have been conducted.”

Bavar (which means “belief”) is Tehran’s first long-range missile defense system, and is set to be operational by March 2018, he added.

In 2010, Iran began manufacturing Bavar-373 after the purchase of the S-300 from Russia was suspended due to international sanctions.

Russia resumed the sale following the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers which lifted sanctions, and Iran’s S-300 defense system became operational in March.

On Sunday, state television aired the first footage from a “secret” drone base in an undisclosed desert location, where dozens of different types of unmanned aircraft were lined up.

“If necessary, a great number of Iran’s high-speed eagles (drones) will land on the enemy,” Esmaili said in the footage.

Iran has developed several military drones in recent years, drawing criticism from Washington.

This month, the US claimed Iranian drones flew dangerously close to an aircraft carrier and a US Naval jet in two separate incidents in Gulf waters.

On Saturday, the new Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Iran has “a specific plan to boost missile power.”