TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Army has reinforced protection of the countrys Eastern borders by deploying an increased number of air defense systems and watchtowers in those regions, a senior commander announced on Saturday.Because Iran shares common borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan to the East, we have deployed air defense systems and watchtowers in this region, Commander of Irans Eastern Air Defense Zone Malek Ali Assadifard told reporters today.
He underlined that protection of Eastern Irans airspace is very important and that is why different defense systems and watchtowers have been deployed in that region.
In mid-May, the Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said his forces are fully prepared to defend the country against threats in the region.
Speaking during a visit to the country's Southwestern Air Defense Zone at the time, Esmayeeli pointed to Iran's eye-catching growth in air defense systems in recent years, and stated that Iran's air defense capability is so advanced that it is not comparable to what it could do during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s.
At present, the air defense unit's capability, capacity and expertise can defuse any threat existing in the region," Esmayeeli stressed, adding that the air defense forces enjoy a "desirable" level of preparedness.
In November, different systems with the capability of intercepting incoming cruise missiles as well as optimized and indigenized air defense missiles were tested in the massive aerial exercises code-named 'Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Skies 4)'.
The advanced home-made Ya Zahra air defense missile system was among the systems tested in the wargames.
The air defense weapon is capable of identifying, intercepting and destroying aerial targets, including different types of aircraft, choppers and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Ya Zahra is a mobile system and can be linked to the country's integrated air defense network and is capable of engaging and destroying several aerial targets simultaneously and also has a powerful fast reaction and full detection capabilities.
During the wargames, Iran also tested a variety of missile systems, including anti-cruise weapons.
Also artilleries, shoulder-launched weapons and low-altitude missile systems were used in the military drills.
Iranian air defense units also exercised targeting Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with anti-aircraft Hawk missiles.
The missile was fired by a mobile air defense system on a missile-launching vehicle.
By Fars News Agency
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