Iran’s Air Defence Force assessed the preparedness and performance of its air defense artillery and mid-range missile systems against low-altitude aerial threats during the military drills along the country’s coastal waters in the Persian Gulf.
The drills were staged by the air defence units of the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on the second day of the ‘Sarallah’ wargames underway in Iran’s Southern regions.
In the current phase of the drills, hypothetical enemy aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) intruded into the airspace of the wargames’ general zone in low altitude but were detected, identified and confronted by Iran’s integrated air defence network’s electronic systems.
The performance of 35mm Orlican air defence artillery systems, Skyguard and Rapier air defence systems which are now equipped with electro optic and laser telemeters was assessed in the drills.
Iran has recently renewed and upgraded the weapons and defence systems of its air defense units. Late in September, Iran equipped its air defence units across the country with large numbers of the home-made Mersad Air Defence Missile System.
In November and during the massive air defence exercises in Iran, the power, capability, weapons and military systems of the Rapid Reaction units of Iran’s Air Defence Force were tested.
The Iranian Air Defence Force’s rapid reaction units used their state-of-the-art, home-made weapons and systems, including multi-frequency radar equipment, anti-aircraft canons and different types of air defence missiles to force hypothetical enemy aircraft out of the country’s air space.
Later in the drills, the rapid reaction units tested their ability against the hypothetical enemies’ surprised night raids and blitzkrieg with full radio silence.
On the third day of the Sarallah air defence maneuvers, air defence units of the Armed Forces successfully tracked mock enemy stealth aircraft and unmanned aircraft using innovative tactics and advanced radar systems of the country’s integrated network of air defense.
In another operation on Wednesday, radar operators at the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Air Defense Base and lookouts stationed across the theater of operation provided friendly fighter jets with information about the position of mock enemy fighters, enabling them to force away the invading enemy aircraft. New domestically manufactured radars like the Kashef (Discoverer) and various upgraded radar systems were also test-operated during the exercises.
The four-day war games started on Monday in southern Iran, covering a span of about 190,000 square kilometers. According to the public relations department of the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Air Defense Base, the Sarallah maneuvers are meant to enhance the country’s integrated network of air defence with a focus on modern defensive tactics. The other purpose of the war games is to increase the country’s preparedness in the face of military threats, particularly possible attacks on densely populated areas, sensitive and vulnerable centers, and nuclear facilities.
The exercises are also aimed at increasing the mobility of rapid response forces to engage in asymmetric warfare and improving coordination between air defense units of various forces in order to provide the country with wide air defence coverage.
Source: Fars News Agency