‘Iran air defense units armed with advanced radars to detect UAVs’

October 8, 2011 - 17:30
altTEHRAN – The commander of the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Air Defense Base said on Saturday that Iranian air defense units have been equipped with advanced radar systems capable of detecting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).   

Brigadier General Farzad Esmaeili also said that air defense units are closely monitoring overflights of foreign aircraft and are fully prepared to detect and shoot down unauthorized UAVs. 

In addition, he said previous radar systems have also been upgraded. 

In response to the news that Israel has planned to use UAVs against the Islamic Republic, Esmaeili said, “The Zionist regime talks utter nonsense.” 

According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Air Force has planned to boost its intelligence-gathering capabilities by the end of the year as it moves forward with plans to begin operating the Heron TP, Israel’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle, capable of flying as far as Iran.

Iran has recently announced that its air defense units have been equipped with the new generation of domestically manufactured Mersad missile systems. 

Iran has also deployed enhanced air defense systems along the country’s borders and around sensitive areas.