TEHRAN -- Iran’s army aviation commander said on Saturday that the range and accuracy of the military’s helicopter-launched missiles have significantly improved, with all components now locally produced.
Brigadier General Ghasem Khamoushi, commander of the Islamic Republic’s Army Aviation (Havanirooz), said Iran has developed precision-guided and long-range missiles domestically and expanded the operational capabilities of its helicopters to include night missions using indigenously developed night-vision systems.
“Missile range has increased more than seven-fold, and targeting systems have become significantly more precise,” he told reporters during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1982 liberation of Khorramshahr during the Iraqi war on Iran.
The city, taken by Iraqi forces early in the war, was retaken by Iran during Operation Beitol-Moqaddas in what is considered a turning point in the war.
Khamoushi added that key helicopter parts, previously affected by sanctions, are now produced in Iran using domestic expertise and knowledge-based companies. The advances, he said, will be formally unveiled in the coming weeks.
Khamoushi also said that Iranian helicopters, once limited to daytime operations, are now equipped to conduct missions in complete darkness, thanks to technological upgrades and locally developed equipment.
Separately, Iran’s maritime fleet received 13 locally produced vessels during a ceremony in Khorramshahr.
In a ceremony attended by Minister of Defense Aziz Nasirzadeh, four tugboats with 1,800 horsepower each and nine large rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) designed for search and rescue operations were officially delivered to the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.
The vessels were designed and built using modern global technology by the Marine Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with 25 knowledge-based companies and universities.
The vessels are equipped with the most advanced and complex indigenous systems and comply with international standards. 
Nasirzadeh said Iran has attained self-sufficiency in manufacturing all types of naval watercraft from vessels to submarines.
Iranian experts have made significant advancements in indigenous military technology, achieving self-sufficiency in various defense
 sectors. Officials have repeatedly stated that Iran will not compromise on its military capabilities, particularly its missile program, which is strictly defensive.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s military capabilities, decrying enemies for questioning the country’s defense program.