Iran tests home-built ammo in air drill

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has deployed a variety of domestically-built war ammunition on the first day of the main and final stage of its extensive military maneuvers.

IRIAF started the three-day aerial maneuvers dubbed “Fadaeeyan Harim Velayat 3” (Defenders of Velayat Sanctuaries 3) in the northwest Iranian city of Tabriz on Tuesday.

Jet fighters of the IRIAF employed various offensive tactics and used air-to-surface ammunitions, including bombs as well as thermal, laser and radar missiles to successfully strike pre-determined targets, spokesman for the drills Hossein Chitforoush told reporters on Tuesday.

He added that the key stage of the aerial drills, conducted for the first time since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, included the performance of various fighters, fighter-bombers, transport planes, tactical flights and drones.

The domestically-built Saeqeh fighter as well as F-4, F-5, F-7, Mig-29 and Sukhoi-24 fighter-bombers conducted aerial attacks on mobile targets, the Iranian commander explained.

On Monday, IRIAF ended the practical phase of the drills, testing tactical flights and dropping test ammunition on mock targets.