IRGC Unveils Anti-Cruise Weapon System

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has designed and built an anti-cruise missile weapon system, named as Asefeh Project.

Asefeh was unveiled during a visit by IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari to an exhibition of the latest military achievements of the IRGC Ground Force’s Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization in Tehran on Monday.

Asefeh is a 23mm Gatling cannon with a cyclic triple-barrel design and is capable of pumping out 900 shots per minute.

In November 2012, different systems with the capability of intercepting incoming cruise missiles as well as optimized and indigenized air defense missiles were tested in massive air defense exercises code-named ‘Modafe’an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Skies 4)’.

The advanced home-made Ya Zahra air defense missile system was among the systems tested in the wargames.

The air defense weapon is capable of identifying, intercepting and destroying aerial targets, including different types of aircraft, choppers and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Ya Zahra is a mobile system and can be linked to the country’s integrated air defense network and is capable of engaging and destroying several aerial targets simultaneously and also has a powerful fast reaction and full detection capabilities.

During the wargames, Iran also tested a variety of missile systems, including anti-cruise weapons.

Also artilleries, shoulder-launched weapons and low-altitude missile systems were used in the military drills.

Iranian air defense units also exercised targeting Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with anti-aircraft Hawk missiles.

The missile was fired by a mobile air defense system on a missile-launching vehicle.