Iran concludes military exercises with test of upgraded missile
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, March 6, 2000
NICOSIA -- Iran has reported firing an upgraded version of a
surface-to-air missile during naval maneuvers in the Gulf.
The test-firing of the Standard missile was reported during the
air, sea and ground exercises last week in the Persian Gulf in what officials termed
was a mock battle against a "hypothetical enemy," a reference to the U.S.
naval presence in the gulf.
"For the first time a surface-to-air missile partly manufactured and
upgraded by the navy was tested with success," the official IRNA news agency
quoted a navy official as saying.
The 10-day exercise, which ended on Saturday, includes 60 warships, 120
rocket-launching speedboats, 45 helicopters and jets and Iran's three
Russian-made Kilo-class submarines. The test of the Standard missile was
conducted by the Revolutionary Guards.
A military spokesman said the improvement of the Standard missile took
nearly four years and some parts of the missile were built by Iranian
experts. He did not said which country helped in the project.
Military commanders said Iran wants to increase the range of missiles
from the current 30 kilometers to 120 km [75 miles]. In addition, Iranian
forces also tested electronic warfare measures and new radar jamming
equipment.
"The United States thought that by pressuring China not to transfer the
know-how of the C-802 naval missile to Iran, we would not be able to make it
operational, but this year we will deploy a modified and advanced version of
the missile," Adm. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, head of the Revolutionary Guards
naval forces, said.
Iran is reported to have 18 separate missile programs.
Monday, March 6, 2000
|