FNA - The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday unveiled a new anti-armor missile, 'Azarakhsh (Lightening)', and inaugurated an aviation training center.

The anti-armor Azarakhsh missile has been developed to be used in low-altitude air operations and against ground targets.


The missile that weights 70km can destroy targets 10km away at a maximum speed of 550m/s. The explorer of this thermal missile locks on targets at a maximum distance of 6km.


Also, a well-equipped aviation center, a helicopter research center and a center for specialized helicopter overhaul center were inaugurated near Tehran in the presence of IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali�Jafari�and other Armed Forces' commanders.


Meantime, the IRGC's�Mil Mi-17 helicopters were equipped with night-vision systems during the ceremony to inaugurate the specialized helicopter overhaul center.


Iran has made major breakthroughs in arms production in the last three decades. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.


Yet, 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.


Earlier this month, Commander of the Iranian Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari announced that the country's experts are working on a unique project to produce an advanced anti-armored missile launcher.


"Today, a type of anti-armored missile launcher is being built which is considered as an exclusive project and can provide the Ground Force with unique capabilities in area of anti-armored (weapons)," General Heidari told reporters.


"This anti-armored system is a guided missile", he explained, adding that some good news will be revealed about the project on Army Day (April 18).