Iran Army, IRGC Set to Hold Large-Scale Air Defense Maneuvers

Date: 20 October 2020 - 21:28

News ID: ۸۴۰۶۰

TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Iran’s Army and Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) are set to stage massive aerial exercises aimed at bolstering their preparedness for defending the country’s skies against enemy threats.
The large-scale drills, codenamed Modafe’an-e Aseman-e Velayat 99 (Guardians of Velayat Sky 99), will begin on Wednesday under precise supervision of experts from the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Qader Rahimzadeh, who will command the exercise, said on Tuesday.
The drills, the commander added, would be held in an area covering more than half of the country.
He added that units from the Iranian Army’s air defense units and Air Force along with the IRGC’s Aerospace Force will participate in the maneuvers, which are aimed at promoting the combat preparedness and consolidating the air defense capabilities of the Armed Forces in simulated real war conditions.
He noted that various types of homegrown missile systems, radars, reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment and communications systems would drill countering aerial threats in low, medium and high altitudes and dealing with incoming standoff fire.
Rahimzadeh said the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force plans to fly different types of interceptor fighter aircraft, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles during the drill.
He added that the participating forces would also use a new generation of completely domestically-manufactured equipment and artillery and practice new air defense tactics acquired by constantly monitoring the enemies.

‘Iran’s Defense Power Aimed at Deterring Threats’

Commander of Khatam ul-Anbia Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid said that Iran’s military power is based on deterring any possible threats.
Major General Rashid made the remarks on the verge of the ‘Modafe’an-e Aseman-e Velayat 99’ (Guardians of Velayat’s Sky-99) large-scale drills.
He emphasized that the country’s military power is meant to deter any threat that might be posed by enemies.
"Iran’s defense power is in full compliance with the country’s other approaches,” Rashid added.
"According to the guidelines of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the country’s overall power is based on defense power, economic stability and cultural strength,” he noted.
"The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran not only play an active role in these three areas, but have also organized and built the defense power with an aggressive deterrence approach,” the senior commander went on to say.
"The defense power of our Armed Forces is in the best coordination with cultural-historical components,” he stated.
General Rashid added that Iran’s air defense forces have proven in the military drills that they will confront all the threatening moves of the enemy with full power.
Major General Rashid had warned enemies in early September that they are not able to survive any possible confrontation against the Army and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
"We have understood the elements of power and learned methods to use them and we hope that the enemies avoid testing the Army and IRGC’s determination and power,” General Rashid said.

He added that the Iranian Armed Forces have gained highly appropriate combat power after four decades of the Islamic Revolution, confrontation against security crises and 8 years of fighting against Iraq in Saddam era.
Iran has conducted major military drills in recent years to enhance the defense capabilities of its Armed Forces and to test modern military tactics and state-of-the-art equipment.
Each year, the country inaugurates a host of new projects and hardware developed with reliance on domestic capabilities. The Islamic Republic maintains that its defense power is driven by deterrence and poses no threat to any other country.
This year’s ‘Modafe’an-e Aseman-e Velayat 99’ (Guardians of Velayat’s Sky-99) is going to start on Wednesday, October 21.