Iran Develops Unique Air Defense Systems, Announces Plans to Begin Production Soon

TEHRAN: Iran’s Army Air Defense Force has developed new indigenous air defense systems with no known foreign equivalent, with production expected to begin after the completion of technical and legal procedures.

According to Mehr News Agency, Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, commander of the Army Air Defense Force, said new defense designs were gradually being transformed into operational systems and that no recognised foreign equivalent existed for them.

Elhami said Iran’s air defense force had deployed some of its domestically developed systems during the 40-day war, which he claimed helped shoot down more than 200 enemy aircraft.

He said the limited knowledge the enemy had of the specifications, capabilities and operational methods of the systems had also been one of their strengths. In some cases, he added, the enemy did not know which air defense system had intercepted its incoming projectile and lacked a precise understanding of how to counter the systems.

The Iranian commander said the new air defense systems would undergo further completion and performance evaluation after being deployed in the field.

He added that once the required technical and legal procedures were completed and the systems reached the necessary level of readiness, they would enter the production and replication phase.

Iran has been seeking to expand its indigenous air defense capabilities as part of its broader efforts to strengthen its domestic defense industry and reduce reliance on foreign military technology.