The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has apparently armed its Sukhoi
Su-22 fighter-bombers with a new air-to-surface missile.
The newly released footage from a visit that Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei had paid to an exhibition of the IRGC Aerospace Force achievements back
in May, suggests that the IRGC has furnished its Sukhoi Su-22 warplanes with a new air-to-surface
missile.
The IRGC has not provided details of the new missile, but it appears to be an advanced
air-launched version of the Fajr-4 guided rocket, Fars News Agency reports.
Fajr-4 is a 333-mm caliber rocket that has been upgraded in the guided versions by getting
maneuvering fins.
Iran has already manufactured the Fajr-4 and Fajr-4CL versions of the rocket.
Iran to develop new long-range air-to-air missile system.
The Iranian Ministry of Defence is currently manufacturing a new long-range air-to-air
missile system called Maqsoud to counter airborne threats, Iranian armed forces general staff
deputy head brigadier general Mohammad Hejazi has announced.
The Iranian Ministry of Defence is currently manufacturing a new long-range air-to-air
missile system called Maqsoud to counter airborne threats, Iranian armed forces general staff
deputy head brigadier general Mohammad Hejazi has announced.
Hejazi was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying: "Iran has accomplished construction of the
mid-range air-to-air Fakour 90 missile and is now building Maqsoud missile system as
its newest long-range air-to-air missile system."
Without providing additional details about the missile, Hejazi noted that the Iranian
armed forces is currently working on 17 air-based weapons system development projects, alongside
11 top level projects in the aerospace industry.
Addressing a conference on air-launched weaponry in Tehran, Hejazi also announced that the
military experts have resolved targeting problem in the domestically manufactured air-based
Qader and Nasr missile systems providing the Iranian armed forces with enhanced manoeuvring
power.
The missile systems were unveiled last week during a ceremony in Tehran, according to
the news agency.
Commenting on the missiles, Iranian defence minister brigadier general Hossein Dehqan
said: "By designing and building these air-based missiles for the first time in Iran, the air
force’s fighter jets will be equipped with advanced air-based Qader missiles with a range
of over 200km and air-based Nasr missiles with a range of over 35km and their operational
and deterrence power will increase powerfully."
The Qader and Nasr missiles are capable of intercepting targets located within a range
of 200km and 35km respectively, Dehqan added.
In Past Years, Iran to Equip F-14 Fighters with Home-Made Missiles.
Iranian air force units will soon equip their F-14 fighter jets with a new indigenous air-to-air
missile as a replacement for the old American ‘Phoenix’ missile.
Iranian military experts and researchers have completed the production process of a new
air-launched missile, dubbed “Fakour 90” (Thoughtful 90), which will be mounted on
F-14 Tomcat fighter jets.
Speaking in a conference on air-launched weaponry held in Tehran on Tuesday, Deputy Chief of
Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Hejazi explained that Fakour 90 is
an air-to-air mid-range missile.
Some experts believe that the new Iranian missile is indeed the upgraded and advanced
version of American “AIM-54 Phoenix” missile.
The AIM-54 Phoenix, produced by the US in 1966, is a radar-guided air-to-air missile
carried in clusters of up to six missiles on F-14 Tomcats, its only launch platform.
The Phoenix has several guidance modes and is capable of hitting the targets within a
range of 160 kilometers at a speed of Mach 5.
On September 25, Iranian defense minister unveiled the air-launched version of two indigenous
cruise missiles, Qader (Capable) and Nasr (Victory), to be mounted on fighter jets.
In a ceremony here in Tehran at the time, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General
Hossein Dehqan unveiled the air-launched versions of Qader and Nasr missiles, which had been
originally designed and mass-produced as anti-ship cruise missiles.
“After designing and mass producing Qader and Nasr anti-ship cruise missiles, the adroit
and skillful specialists of the defense ministry’s aerospace organization managed to design and
produce the air-launched versions of these missiles with exemplary creativity and innovation,”
the minister explained.
The newly-developed missiles are planned to be mounted on the country’s fighter aircraft,
enabling the Air Force to dramatically enhance its operational and deterrent capabilities,
Brigadier General Dehqan pinted out.
He further noted that the air-launched versions of Qader and Nasr missiles are able to hit
targets within a range of 200 km and 35 km, respectively.