TEHRAN – Iran’s Army on Saturday launched a large-scale military exercise in an area along the strategic Makran coastline, the Sea of Oman, and the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, extending up to the 10-degree latitude.
The drill, codenamed Zolfaqar-1403, engages various infantry, armored and mechanized units, air defense systems, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs) as well as air force strategic bombers for logistical support. 
Organized under the theme “Stable Security under the Shadow of Self-Reliance, Unity, and Power,” the exercise is set to test an array of military capabilities.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, deputy chief of the Army for Coordination, and the commander of the joint drill, stated that the primary goal of the exercise is to enhance the defensive and deterrence capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces in the face of potential aerial, ground and naval threats.
He warned the enemies against attempts to harm Iran’s territorial integrity and interests, emphasizing that any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic will be met with a crushing response.
The massive exercise also serves as a testing ground for the new tactics that are drawn up and employed by young personnel of the Iranian Army, he added.
New generations of domestically-developed arms, indigenous smart munitions, and homegrown weapons equipped with pinpoint accuracy systems, in addition to a wide array of missiles, will be tested, Sayyari explained.
The main phase of the drills showcases part of the combat capabilities of the Army’s ground forces, Air Force, Navy, and Air Defense Force as well as the country’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. 
The drill features advanced military tactics and a host of new
 weaponry developed by the armed forces. A key aspect of this year’s exercises is the test of Iran’s latest developments in smart and precision-guided weapons, such as surgical strike missiles and drones. 
The drills also test the readiness of cutting-edge technologies, such as cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and emerging technologies that could redefine future battlefields.
“We are testing weapons that are more precise and technologically advanced than anything we’ve used before. This represents the ingenuity and creativity of the young generation in our military,” Sayyari said. 
Iranian military forces hold routine exercises according to a detailed schedule in various parts of the country in order to test their weaponry and equipment and evaluate their combat preparedness.
According to Sayyari, the new exercises are “completely different” from previous drills in terms of the tactics and weapons that are deployed.
“The creativity and innovation in executing these large-scale exercises at the level of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army is entirely different and will be showcased. Our young forces will apply their creativity and innovation to prove that they are capable of enhancing the defense capabilities and increasing the country’s deterrence power.”
The exercises drill the “best possible coordination” to ensure the highest levels of readiness and strategic cohesion among the Air Force, Air Defense Force, Navy, and other defense forces in carrying out complex operations.
“We must achieve the best coordination and synchronization between all military units to guarantee success in these exercises,” he said.
“These exercises are designed to enhance our defensive and deterrent capabilities in response to any potential land, air, or maritime threats,” he added.