TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Nazir, an advanced Iranian radar used for detecting small targets at long distances, has become operational in a desert in Iran, a top commander announced Monday.

With the coming into service of Nazir, no stealth aircraft will intrude into Iran�s airspace, Air Defense Commander Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said.

The homegrown radar is particularly employed to detect targets with pretty small cross-section areas, American jet Lockheed U-2, and drones like General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, he added.

According to Esmaili, Nazir can easily track ballistic and cruise missiles as well as radar-evading planes.

Known as a suitable option against the anti-radiation missiles, Nazir is capable of detecting targets in ranges of 800 kilometers and at 100,000-feet altitudes.

Elsewhere in his comments, the commander unveiled plans for the integration of homegrown Bavar-373 air defense missile system and the Russian-made S-300.

Bavar-373 is a powerful air defense system with missiles and radars that will be a suitable complementary to S-300, he added, saying the combination of the two systems is what the Air Defense has been looking for.

The commander also noted that locally-made air defense systems, including the upgraded versions of Talash, end the need for the purchase of Russian-made S-400.

Under a contract with Russia, Iran has purchased four batteries of S300-PMU2, two of which have been received and stationed so far.

The system can detect 20 targets simultaneously and directly engage with 12 separate hostile flying objects, including missiles, fighter jets or helicopters.

It is not clear where exactly Iran�s Air Defense has stationed the new gear.

Iran has in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, including the air defense systems that use cutting edge technologies.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military power is defensive in nature and poses no threat to other countries.

By Tasnim News Agency