Iran successfully test-fired its latest air-defense missile system, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Saturday.
Tehran’s defense officials said the system, dubbed Sayyad 2, will be deployed across the country in the near future. Lieutenant Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base for Operations Colonel Abolfazl Farmahini announced that the hawk systems have undergone warm testing at Khondab nuclear facility near the Central city of Arak and successfully hit their targets.
The commander added that the test was aimed at assessing the level of preparedness of the defense systems deployed in the region to defend Iran’s sensitive nuclear facilities. He stressed that the Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base conducts such tests regularly to promote the country’s defensive capabilities.
Sayyad 2 is an upgraded version of the Sayyad 1, a two-staged air defense missile that is capable of destroying targets with low Radar Cross Section (RCS) at low and medium altitudes. The Sayyad 2, however, enjoys higher precision, range and destruction power compared with its previous version.
In January, Iran unveiled a new air defense plan, designed by the Air Defense Base. Officials said the Iranian Army would produce the tools, weapons and equipment that will be required to implement the plan during the five-year period.
Iran launched its arms development program during the 1980-88 armed conflict with Iraq. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own jet fighters and armored vehicles as well as radar-avoiding missiles and other high-tech weapons.
