Salehi said the air force planned to launch a major exercise during the current fast month of Ramadan. The exercise, titled "Defenders of the Sky," was believed to have been scheduled for the first week of October, Middle East Newsline reported. The air force was said to have a fleet of 230 combat jets.

"Iran has made great achievements in manufacturing anti- aircraft missiles and various jet fighters over the past two years," Salehi on Sept. 2.

Officials said the Defense Ministry has succeeded in installing external fuel tanks to the Lightning fighter-jet. They said the external fuel tanks could be displayed in the forthcoming exercise.

In July 2008, the air force reported the production of Lightning, said to contain stealth capabilities. The air force also said it was upgrading its F-14 fleet, procured in the mid-1970s.

---