The Iranian Defense Ministry started mass production of an advanced home-made air defense missile system.

The production line of Ya Zahra air defense missile system was officially inaugurated on Sunday 27 January 2013 in a special ceremony attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

Addressing the ceremony, Vahidi said that the system has completed the chain of self-sufficiency in designing and producing short-range air defense systems.

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

He further stated that 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.

In November, different systems with the capability of intercepting incoming cruise missiles as well as optimized and indigenized 'Ya Zahra 3' missiles were tested in the massive aerial exercises code-named "Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Skies 4).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the wargames, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeelii said Ya Zahra-III is a low-altitude missile system.

“This low-altitude missile system has been designed and produced in a short period of time based on domestic needs. Ya Zahra missile system's capabilities include deployment under all types of weather conditions and on different lands as well as its mobility.”

Source: FNA