Iran has the largest and most powerful fleet of military helicopters in West Asia,
equipped with sophisticated munitions designed for rapid action in actual combat,
the commander of the Airborne Division of the Iranian Army Ground Force has said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tehran on Saturday, Second Brigadier General Yousef Qorbani
stated that his force has achieved a high level of combat readiness despite Western sanctions.
He lauded Iranian military experts and technicians for manufacturing a broad range of helicopter
components, saying combat choppers operated by the Army's Airborne Division have been
furnished with state-of-the-art equipment to effectively counter potential threats.
The commander said Iranian military helicopters are armed with long-range
and fire-and-forget missiles, giving them pinpoint accuracy.
Once launched, these missiles can destroy enemy targets within a mere three seconds, he added.
Furthermore, Brigadier General Qorbani highlighted the swift
response capabilities of the Iranian Army's helicopters, noting that they can
reach threat areas within the operational radius of their bases in just two hours.
The high-ranking commander said that a significant number of Iranian military
helicopters have been equipped with cutting-edge night-vision systems,
a technology manufactured by only a few countries worldwide.
In addition to conducting heliborne operations in complete darkness,
the Airborne Division has successfully carried out offshore helicopter operations during nighttime,
effectively engaging and destroying designated targets, General Qorbani said.
“The Iranian helicopters now feature the same sophisticated technology
found in advanced helicopters around the world,” he boasted.
He revealed that plans are underway for the
development of a new domestically produced military helicopter.
The components of this aircraft are being designed and built in
collaboration with the Defense Ministry and knowledge-based companies, he added.
Iran's military experts and engineers have made remarkable strides in recent years,
achieving self-sufficiency in the production of a diverse range of indigenous equipment.
Iranian officials have consistently said that the country remains determined to enhance its
military capabilities, including its missile power, which solely serves defensive purposes.
They have reaffirmed that Iran's defense
capabilities are non-negotiable and will never be subject to compromise.
in May, The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has inaugurated an
airbase in the city of Zahedan, Sistan and Balouchestan Province,
to improve the drone and helicopter fleet in the southeast of the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, the public relations of the IRGC announced that the airbase
was inaugurated in the presence of the IRGC first-in-command Major General Hossein Salami.
Established by the aviation division of the IRGC Ground Force,
the base can host all kinds of combat and search and rescue
helicopters as well as various types of drones, according to the statement.
Named after Martyr Ali Arabi, the base has been constructed based on
the latest engineering guidelines and aviation standards, it added.
Speaking at the inaugural event, commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General
Mohammad Pakpour said that the base would improve the force’s helicopter
fleet in the southeast of the country for various defense, rescue, logistics, and relief missions.
“The base has all the necessary capacities for refueling, hangar, repairs, and maintenance,
as well as the ability to accommodate and launch dozens of helicopters at the same time,” he said.
The new base comes as the IRGC has developed different types of drones in recent years.
Back on April 9, the IRGC Ground Force unveiled a new suicide drone, dubbed Me’raj 532,
that is capable of flying up to a height of 12,000 feet for 3 hours and taking off from a vehicle.
IRGC Ground Force test-fires new homegrown Sadid-365 top attack anti-tank missile
Just two days later, the force unveiled yet another homegrown UAV dubbed Mohajer
6 which is a jammer drone capable of transmitting interfering radio signals.
Iran has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in making its own equipment for its armed
forces in recent years, clinching self-sufficiency in this area.
Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that the country will not stop strengthening its
defense capabilities, including its missile power, stressing that they are only for defense purposes.