Iranian Army to Stage Military Drills in Isfahan Province in May

Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari announced that Iran plans to stage military exercises in Isfahan province, Central Iran, in late May.
“The Beit-ul-Moqaddas military drills will start in Isfahan on May 24,” Brigadier General Heidari told FNA on Thursday.

He pointed to the Iranian Armed Forces’ preparedness, and said, “The Iranian Ground Force has never been at such a high level of preparedness in its history as it is now.”

Brigadier General Heidari stressed that Iran’s foes would never dare to attack the country because they are afraid of the Islamic Republic’s military might and preparedness.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

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.

On Wednesday, the Iranian Ground Force unveiled five new home-made state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment, including Aqareb wheeled tank and a robot which can carry loads and launch missiles at hostile targets.

The five new achievements went on display in a ceremony participated by Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan in Tehran.

The new equipment includes Aqareb wheeled tank which is equipped with a 90-mm cannon and the latest generation of fire-control systems with an independent suspension system; an armed 4*4 robot which is capable of carrying two missiles and 600kg of load and conducting reconnaissance and combat missions with the operational range of 2km; and an ultra-light track vehicle which can travel at a maximum speed of 100km in bumpy roads and 130km in graveled roads with operational range of 400km.

Also the new weapons include a 23mm sniper rifle and anti-helicopter weapon with the capability to penetrate into bulletproof surfaces which weighs 62kg and has a range of 4km. The 14.5-mm caliber Shaher sniper rifle with a cylinder magazine was another weapon which went on display today. Shaher weighs 24kg and has a range of 3km.