Tehran, April 11: Iran announced the development of a new, more advanced, anti-aircraft system, the defence minister said today on national television.
Ahmad Vahidi said the new Mersad, or Ambush, air defence system would be able to hit modern aircraft at low and medium altitudes.
Based on a photo released by Iran’s Defence Ministry, the Mersad will launch Iran’s Shahin missiles, a local version of the 1970s-era US-manufactured Hawk missile.
The Hawk missile has a range 24 kilometres with a 119-pound warhead and was sold the Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iran has been looking to upgrade its air defences, especially as Israel has refused to rule out an air strike over concerns that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons – a charge it denies.
–Agencies