Iran on Sunday showcased a new Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by the Iranian Defense Ministry, as well as an upgraded version of Bavar-373 (Belief-373) surface-to-air missile system.
The ballistic missile, dubbed “E’temad” (trust), was unveiled during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to an exhibition of the Defense Ministry’s missiles.
The 16-meter long missile has a range of 1,700 kilometers. E’temad is equipped with a precision-guided warhead.
Iran has also showcased the newest version of its domestically-developed missile defense system “Bavar-373”, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
The launcher stations in the upgraded version of the Iranian air defense system have been equipped with separate radar sets that provide detection and tracking of targets as well as fire control, allowing each launcher to act independently without reliance on a central radar.
A battery of Bavar 373-II has a detection radar set with six transporter erector launcher and radars (TELARs), allowing the engagement control station to counter independently with the hostile targets.
The speed and range of the defense shield's missiles have been enhanced. Additionally, the inclusion of guiding fins on the missiles until the moment of impact is among the other changes made to the system.
The Bavar-373 system was formally unveiled during a ceremony attended by former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in August 2019. The initial version of Bavar 373 reportedly can detect targets or planes at more than 300 kilometers, lock them at about 250 kilometers, and destroy them at 200 kilometers.
The system can track 60 targets at the same time and engage with 6 targets simultaneously.
The Defense Ministry, in conjunction with knowledge-based firms and experts, has designed and produced several surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems like Bavar-373, Khordad 15, Talaash (Endeavor) and Mersad (Ambush) in recent years.
Meanwhile, Iran also showcased on Sunday three domestically-developed remote-sensing and communications satellites.
The upgraded models of Pars-1 and Pars-2 remote-sensing satellites, as well as Navak communications satellite were put on display during a ceremony on the occasion of the National Space Technology Day attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Information and Communication Technology Sattar Hashemi and Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hossein Salariyeh.
The upgraded version of the Pars-1 satellite reportedly has made significant improvements in comparison with its predecessor.
Pars-2 remote-sensing satellite enjoys much higher imaging accuracy, with a visual spectrum of 8 meters in color and 4 meters in black and white modes respectively.
Moreover, the Navak satellite is manufactured to test communications in an elongated elliptical orbit and would be placed in such an orbit for the first time.
Brigadier General Nasirzadeh said the Defense Ministry is working with over 7,000 private companies and 300 knowledge-based enterprises in various fields. He also unveiled plans for two space launches in the current Persian month, which ends on February 18.
The Minister added that Iran has been working on a new satellite carrier, named Sarir, which can carry heavy cargos to space.
