Head of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Public Relations Department Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif underlined Iran's powerful defense system, saying that it is able to intercept the most advanced US drones. RNA - "The most complicated and equipped drones of the Americans cannot have safe pass through the IRGC's fire zone," General Sharif said, addressing a ceremony in the Eastern province of South Khorassan on Wednesday.
He stressed that the enemy can no more surprise Iran similar to what it did in the 1980s during the Iraqi-imposed war when they shot down an Iranian passenger plane, and said his country had 30 years after the war to produce defensive tools to protect itself.
General Sharif referred to the recent downing of an intruder US spy plane over Iran's territories by the IRGC, and stressed that the anti-air missile system that brought the US aircraft down was just a very small component of Iran's defensive weapons and defense power.
In relevant remarks on Monday, Commander of the Iranian Army's Khatam ol-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi Fard underlined that the integrated radar system developed by Iran is capable of detecting and intercepting different types of US stealth planes and fighter jets.
"Today, we have gained full self-sufficiency in area of radar systems and powerfully detect different advanced US planes and give them warning," General Sabahi Fard said.
He also underscored Iran's astonishing progress in developing powerful defense systems, and said, "Our indigenized systems have made enemies realize that if they want to start a conflict with us, they will receive heavy blows."
Iran in June unveiled a new home-made state-of-the-art missile defense system named 'Khordad 15' which is equipped with passive phased array radar system for detecting fighter jets, stealth targets and cruise missiles.
The missile defense system was unveiled in a ceremony participated by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and General Sabahi Fard in Tehran.
Elaborating on the features and capabilities of the defense shield, General Hatami said that it can trace targets, including fighter jets and enemy drones, 150km away and intercept them at a range of 120km.
"It can also trace stealth targets in areas 85km in distance, and destroy them at a distance of 45km," he added.
General Hatami said that the missile defense system can trace, engage, and destroy 6 targets simultaneously, enjoys high mobility and can be prepared for operation in less than 5 minutes.
"The system is equipped with (passive) phased-array radar system with a multiple-target-engagement capability. It also has separate launch pads, and operates with Sayyad 3 missiles," he underlined.
Iran's powerful defense system intercepted an intruder US Navy spy drone, MQ4-C Triton, over Iran's territorial waters on June 20.
The IRGC shot down a US Navy’s Northrop Grumman MQ4-C Triton drone that had entered Iranian airspace in the Gulf Oman to gather intelligence on June 20, using Sevvom Khordad indigenous surface-to-air missile system.
The United States had confirmed that one of its reconnaissance planes was shot down by Iranian air defenses, but denied that it intruded into Tehran’s airspace at the time.
Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that his forces could have also shot down a US P8 aircraft with 35 on board which was violating Iran’s airspace, but decided to shoot down the drone to only send a message to Washington.
“We intended to send a message to American terrorists in the region,” Brigadier General Hajizadeh said on June 21, adding that his forces had also traced a military P8 aircraft violating the airspace of Iran.
“Along with the American drone was an American P8 aircraft with 35 on board, and it was also violating our airspace and we could have downed it too,” he said, adding, “But we did not do (shoot down) it, because our aim was to warn the terrorist forces of the US.”
General Hajizadeh also stressed on June 22 that Iran was not after war but was fully ready to defend itself, adding that the fate of the downed US spy drone was waiting for any intruding flying object.
“Our response to anything trespassing Iranian territory is like this, and if such acts of aggression are repeated, our response will also be the same," General Hajizadeh said.
“We don’t embrace war but we are ready to fully defend the country,” he said.
"We possess a collection of US drones which is a proof that US has violated Iran’s airspace and shows that they don’t want to respect the international law,” General Hajizadeh said.
“If such an aggression is repeated, we will add other US (military) products to complete this collection,” he noted.
“The US measure was in violation of international law and we acted according to our legitimate responsibility,” General Hajizadeh said, adding, “It is possible that a US general or some operators were behind this American aggression, we don’t know that. But that measure (intruding into Iranian airspace) is a violation of international aviation rules by a spy drone which then received our natural response."
Meantime, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami stressed that the move should alert Washington officials to stay away.
The incident sent "a clear message" to the US and other enemies that Iran will show a firm and crushing response to any aggression, he stated.
"Borders are our red lines and any enemy which violates them will not go back home and will be annihilated. The only way for enemies is to respect Iran's territorial integrity and national interests," the major general noted.
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