Iranian armed forces mark National Defense Industry Day

Iranian armed forces have issued statements ahead of the National Defense Industry Day on August 22, when the country is expected to unveil a wide range of advanced achievements in various fields, including a much-touted air defense system.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced Wednesday that it was well on its way to expand its capabilities beyond the current levels and develop even more sophisticated defenses despite the economic pressure against the country.

"At a time that the leaders of the global hegemony and the enemies of the Islamic Revolution and establishment are with spite and envy pursuing the policy of sanctions despite their inability to take on the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, military organizations and in particular the IRGC focus on the strategy of growing and expanding the country's defenses using" indigenous designs, read the statement.

The IRGC noted that the great strides Iran's defense industry has made over the years in terms of land, maritime and aerospace technologies have turned the Islamic Republic into the undisputed power of the region and put it on the same level as trans-regional powers.

The defense industry and its resilience in the face of foreign pressure also provide great examples for the country's economy and industry, the statement added.

The IRGC's downing of an intruding US spy drone over the Persian Gulf last month and its legal seizure of a British tanker in the Persian Gulf also attested to the Iranian defense industry's strategic role.

PressTV-Leader thanked IRGC for tackling US drone, UK tanker: Rep

Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for downing of an intruding US drone and detaining a trespassing British tanker, his representative in the IRGC says.

The Iranian defense industry's effect could also be traced in various aspects of the regional Islamic resistance movements against proxies and terror groups, it said.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi also marked the occasion in a statement, saying that Iran, unlike some other countries in the Middle East region, enjoyed great security thanks to its defense industry.

"We live in a country that enjoys a very high level of security despite all the threats and hostilities by the global arrogance and its regional cronies," Admiral Khanzadi said.

The commander said Iran, because of its access to open waters and its geopolitical situation, played a significant role in global security.

Iran to unveil advanced missile defense system

Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Hojjatollah Ghoreishi also said Wednesday that Iran's Army was also slated to unveil the Bavar-373 advanced surface-to-air missile system on Thursday.

PressTV-‘Iran to unveil new defense missile system’

The Iranian defense minister says the country plans to unveil a domestically-designed and –manufactured missile defense system.

The Bavar-373 is a mobile missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming targets flying at altitudes of up to 65 kilometers. The system employs missiles that have a maximum range of 300 kilometers.

General Ghoreishi said the missile is a rival to Russia’s S-300 missile system and brings quite a few substantial upgrades over its Russian equivalent.

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