Tehran, September 29: Iran equips its Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) with a domestically-produced anti-ship stealth missile, Press TV reports.
The cruise missile dubbed Qader (Capable) has a range of more than 200 kilometers. It has been hailed as a projectile undetectable by the most advanced radar systems and one of a destructive power enough to sink any large battleship.
Mass-produced by Iran’s Ministry of Defense, Qader was delivered to the Iranian Navy as well as the IRGC’s naval forces on Wednesday amid Western media-waged skepticism, a Press TV correspondent reported.
It was originally unveiled during a ceremony joined by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in late August.
The missile, which owes its design, manufacturing and mass production all to Iranian experts, can function as a surface-to-sea, air-to-sea, and sea-to-sea projectile and can be used against large battleships and aircraft carriers, as well as coastal facilities.
The intelligent missile is also fitted with digital autopilot option and anti-jamming radar technology and is capable of detecting and hitting targets at low depths.
Iran’s high ranking military officials say that only a few countries enjoy the know-how and technology to produce such hardware, while defining the Islamic Republic as the only country in the region with such expertise.
During the Wednesday ceremony, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said the mass production of the advanced weapon served as a crushing response to foreign propaganda campaigns aimed at downplaying the country’s military achievements.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.
The Islamic Republic has, however, repeatedly said that its military prowess poses no threat to other countries and that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.
——Agencies