Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran has showcased a new domestically-designed and manufactured long-range ground-to-ground cruise missile, named Soumar.

The new missile system with high accuracy was unveiled during a ceremony in Tehran on March 7 attended by senior Iranian officials, Iranian media reported.

During the ceremony, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, the Iranian defense minister said Soumar “enjoys different characteristics in terms of range and pinpoint accuracy in comparison with the previous products.”

“Such important achievements, which have been made through research and innovation based on the needs of Iranian armed forces, are “considered as crucial steps toward increasing the country’s defense and deterrence might,” Dehqan said.

He further added Soumar has been designed and built by experts of the defense ministry's aerospace industries organization.

The Iranian defense chief stressed that Tehran aims to promote the range, precision and destructive power of such type of missiles in the upgraded versions, which are to be unveiled in the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21).

Dehqan also announced that the long-range ballistic missiles of Qadr and Qiam have been delivered in mass to the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), noting that these missiles benefit radar-evading features and are capable of destroying various types of targets.

Iran will also unveil a long-range missile defense system, connected to the S-200 missile system.

Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiyaair defense base said the Talaash-3 (Endeavor-3) system is to be unveiled on April 18, when the country marks National Army Day.

Furthermore, the Islamic Republic is expected to launch its first destroyer in the Caspian Sea near the northern port city of Bandar Anzali on March 9.

Iran’s senior military are scheduled to attend the ceremony, the IRNA news agency reported.

The home-made destroyer dubbed "Damavand" will join Iran’s 4th naval zone fleet in the Caspian Sea.

The production of the Damavand destroyer started in 2010, according to Iranian media outlets. It will have the ability to carry helicopters, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and torpedoes. The ship will also be equipped with electronic warfare devices.

Iranian officials say that the country is upgrading its warfare capabilities in the Caspian Sea in a bid to maintain peace and security along its coastal waters in the North.

In recent years, Iran has made several major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems, including a variety of domestically-manufactured drones.

Since 1992, Iran has manufactured its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes.

The country has so far unveiled various domestically produced drones, including Ababil, Fotros, Hazem, Karrar (long range attack drone), Mohajer, Sarir, Shahed 129, Yasir and Zohal.

Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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