Iran Modernizes U.S. Surface-To-Air Missile System

Iran has modernized the U.S.-made surface-to-air missile system MIM-23 Hawk, Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, Farzad Esmaili said, Iranian ISNA news agency reported on Feb. 3.

MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile was also produced outside the US in Western Europe, Japan and Iran.

Farzad Esmaili said that experts of the Khatam al-Anbia have modernized and optimized the system.

"The medium range of the system has been improved," Esmaili said. "The system's medium and high radar range has also been increased, while the low radar range has doubled."

Esmaili noted that the system's radar efficiency has increased by 40 percent, after optimization.

Esmaili also noted that the system has improved fire control system, as well as updated monitors and cooling mechanisms. He said the system was tested by local experts.

It should be noted that Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base has started using home-made simulators for Hawk and Skyguard air defense missile systems, Iran's IRNA news agency reported on Jan. 28.

Esmaili attended the inauguration ceremony held on Jan. 28 at the base's university.

In recent years, Iran has claimed it made great achievements in its defense sector and has attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Tehran established an arms development program during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s to counter the weapons embargo imposed on it by the U.S. and its Western allies.

Since 1992, Iran has manufactured its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes. Iran also unveiled its first domestically-manufactured long-range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in 2010.

Tehran has repeatedly assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other countries since the Islamic Republic's defense doctrine is based entirely on deterrence.http://en.haberler.com/