Iran tests missiles, air defenses

A Raad air defense system with Taer missiles is displayed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, during a military parade just outside Tehran, Sept. 21, 2012. / AP

TEHRAN, Iran Iran's navy said Monday it test-fired a range of weapons during ongoing maneuvers near the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted Adm. Amir Rastgari, spokesman for the exercise, as saying the Iranian-made air defense system Raad, or Thunder, was among the weapons tested, along with various torpedoes and underwater and surface-to-surface rockets as well as anti-ship missiles. The Islamic Republic said it also deployed domestically-made hovercraft during the operation.

The Raad system was on show during a military parade in Tehran in September for the first time. Iran says is more advanced than its Russian predecessor and is designed to confront fighter jets, cruise missiles, smart bombs, helicopters and drones. Iran said the system fires missiles with a range of 30 miles, capable of hitting targets at 75,000 feet.

Tehran has tried to build a self-sufficient military program since 1992. It frequently announces technological breakthroughs, most of which cannot be confirmed independently.

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Iran's military leaders have recently said they believe future wars will be air- and sea-based and Tehran has sought to upgrade its air defense systems and naval power in anticipation of such a possibility.

The drill began on Friday and ends on Wednesday, one of a number of exercises Iran holds annually.

The maneuvers come as the West increases its pressure over Iran's nuclear program. Iran has said in the past it might close the strait over Western sanctions or military threats against its nuclear facilities, but has stepped back from those threats in recent months.

Both the United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program, which the West believes is aimed at weapons development.

Iran denies the charge, insisting its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes like power generation and cancer treatment.

[quincytodd]

Hopefully with the success from the missile tests, the Iranians will be able to deter a senseless war from the West which is hungry for Iran's oil. It seems to the right-wing thugs in both Washington and London, that Iraqi and Libyan oil is not enough! This is ludicrous!

[joesapper]

So Iran warns over 30 surveillance aircraft to stay away or else , as Iran conducts drills in the Strait of Hormuz , well my question is , if Iran can dictate the control of both airspace and waters of the Strait , what would stop them from testing this if they expanded to other waters ?

Weakness is the strength of others , and the event at Ahvas involving a USA c-12 Huron in Iran clearly supports this .

[john92021]

getting ready for the mother of all battles, oh, we have already had that.

[KansasCity-2012]

Yes Iran and any nation has the right to test its' defense systems.

A side note...

Between 1953 and 1978, Iran imported much of our technology. The hostages captured from the USA embassy were released after the USA agreed to send spare parts and repair technicians to repair their grounded planes.

Iranians are a highly respected military adversary. Any hostile encounter with USA military spells casualties beyond tolerable limits on both sides.

The more GDP that Iran diverts away spending from domestic needs towards military spending, the weaker the Iranian support for their leaders becomes.

There is a similar polarization occurring in Iran, as in the USA. The extremes are becoming louder, yet the centrists are gaining majority and finding increasing distaste for their country's present situation.