Iran releases images of 1st self-manufactured missile defense system
The final version of Iran’s first domestically-built long-range air defense missile system has been unveiled at a Defense expo, alongside other state of the art technologies.
Iran’s Bavar-373 air defense complex is designed to track down and penetrate targets like drones and missiles, as well as combat aircraft at various altitudes.
#Iran reveals some components of much awaited long range air defense system, Bavar-373, for first time. pic.twitter.com/JLLdEoR8Fc
— Amirhosein (@ErA_923) August 21, 2016
Pictures of the system were released to the public on Sunday during the exhibition of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) hosted in the capital Tehran. The event was visited by the country’s president Hassan Rouhani, who was portrayed next to various elements of the weapon alongside other top Iranian officials.
Bavar-373 is the country’s first air defense system, manufactured solely by local specialists. It was commissioned back in 2010 following a suspended deal with Moscow on the delivery of similar S-300 defense systems due to nuclear sanctions adopted by the UN over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran displays first home-made missile defence system, Bavar 373, begun when sanctions suspended sale of Russia S-300 pic.twitter.com/PnWuUfhMUe
— Eric Randolph (@EricWRandolph) August 21, 2016
Last year Moscow re-authorized the delivery of S-300 to Iran shortly before the international community clinched a deal with Tehran on the nuclear program.
“We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300 – we wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it,” Iran’s Minister of Defense Hossein Dehghan said on Saturday as quoted by The Times of Israel. The weapon was first time successfully test-fired in August of 2014.
Pictures posted by Iranian news outlets and people on social media showed the final shape of Bavar launchers.
“Images of the Iranian missile system demonstrate the square shape of the final version of its launchers, as opposed to the initial cylindrical shape,” Tasnim News Agency says.
Photos of the fire control radars as well as heavy trucks designed to carry the system were also presented on Sunday. According to AP citing the country’s defense ministry, Bavar is expected to go into production late this year.
During the exhibition Iran also unveiled its first self-constructed turbo engine, with the country’s officials claiming it is capable of flying at the altitude of some 15,000 kilometers (50,000 feet).
“The Islamic Republic is one of eight countries in the world who have mastered the technology to build these engines,” Rouhani said as quoted by the Iran Daily.
The country is also expecting to develop sea-based supersonic cruise missiles, according to the Iran’s Defense Minister, Hossein Dehghan.
“We have had considerable progress in this field,” Denghan said as quoted by ISNA news agency.
Research on missile defense is not banned by last year’s international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. However, the country is subject to a UN resolution 2231 that urges Tehran to refrain from ballistic missile tests for the next eight years.
Back in April Iran’s President Rouhani announced increase of the military budget.
“If we are able to discuss with world powers around the negotiating table, it is because of our national strength, because of our national unity,” Rouhani said during a televised statement commenting on the move.
