2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Thursday, August 22, 2019, 17:06
Iran displays domestically built mobile missile defence system
By Reuters
Thursday, August 22, 2019, 17:06 By Reuters

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, a part of Iran-made Bavar-373 air-defense missile system is seen in a ceremony to unveil by President Hassan Rouhani, Iran, Aug 22, 2019. Iran says the Bavar-373 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system able to recognize up to 100 targets at a same time and confront them with six different weapons. (IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OFFICE VIA AP)

DUBAI - Iran displayed what it described as a domestically built long-range, surface-to-air missile air defence system on Thursday, at a time of rising tension with the United States. 

With this long-range air defence system, we can detect ... targets or planes at more than 300 km, lock it at about 250 km, and destroy it at 200 km

Amir Hatami,

Defence Minister

Iran shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June. It says the drone was over its territory, but the United States says it was in international airspace. 

State television showed President Hassan Rouhani attending an unveiling ceremony for the mobile Bavar-373 system, which Iranian media have described as a competitor to the Russian S-300 missile system. 

ALSO READ: Iran says missile program defensive after US test allegation

"With this long-range air defence system, we can detect ... targets or planes at more than 300 km, lock it at about 250 km, and destroy it at 200 km," Defence Minister Amir Hatami told state television. 

The system's unveiling came on Iran's National Defence Industry Day. Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes that have barred it from importing many weapons. 

Western military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its weapons capabilities, though concerns about its long-range ballistic missile program contributed to Washington last year leaving the pact that Iran sealed with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions. 

READ MORE: Iran warns US against seizing released Iranian oil tanker

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned at a UN Security Council meeting that, under the Iran nuclear deal, a United Nations arms embargo on Iran was due to expire in October 2020.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !