Islamic Iran to Display Latest UAV, Missile Products Thursday

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) officials announced on Wednesday that the country plans to display the latest generation of Shahab missiles, pilotless drones and electronic war systems in the military parades on Thursday.

“This year too our major weapons and equipments, like the different classes of Shahab missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and various types of electronic warfare systems, will be displayed in the parades,” IRGC liaison officer and head of the headquarters responsible for the arrangement of September 22 Parades, General Abulqassem Foroutan, announced on Wednesday.

He further pointed out that the military parades this year have a new meaning as they happen concurrent with the growing waves of Islamic awakening and Muslim uprisings in several countries in the region.

Earlier today another Iranian commander announced that the Army plans to unveil an upgraded version of the Zolfaqar battle tanks during the military parades tomorrow.

Deputy Commander of the Army’s Ground Force for Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad General Seyed Massoud Reza Zawareh’ee said that the Ground Force attaches much importance to firepower, mobility and protection as three major and decisive factors in battlefields and Zolfaqar tanks that use state of the art technology set an example in all these three fields.

“Production of the new generation of the tank has already come on our agenda and its first samples will be displayed in tomorrow’s parades,” he announced.

The parades mark the start of the Week of Sacred Defense, commemorating Iranian sacrifices during the 8 years of the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s.

Each year, the Iranian Armed Forces display the country’s latest military achievements and products in nationwide parades on September 22.

On Sunday, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi also informed that the country would display its latest military achievements and products in nationwide parades on September 22.

“The latest achievements of the Defense Ministry which have been supplied to the Armed Forces recently will be displayed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Islamic Republic Army during the September 22 parades,” Vahidi said during a visit to a defense industry plant on Sunday.

“These achievements” he said “are the latest missile, air, electronic and telecommunications, armored, naval and anti-air tools, weapons and equipments produced in the country.”

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.

The country stages several air, land and sea wargames each year to test its newly produced weapons and equipments.