Iran test-fires domestically made anti-aircraft systemSeptember 24, 2012 - 19:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran successfully test-fired a domestically made anti-aircraft system, the country's English-language Press TV reported on Monday, September 24, according to Reuters. "The mid-range system ... is capable of intercepting targets at a range of 50 kilometers (30 miles) and can fly at an altitude of 75,000 feet," the report on Press TV's website said. As Israel makes increasing hints it may launch air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, the weapons test is designed to show Iran is ready for any such Israeli or U.S. attack. An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said at a military parade displaying the weapons last Friday that: "The system has been manufactured with the aim of confronting (hostile) U.S. aircraft." "The Ra'd air defence system is the first completely indigenous system of the Sepah (Revolutionary Guards), which has been designed and manufactured by committed Iranian technicians in the struggle for self-sufficiency," Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency. Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace arm, was quoted on Sunday as saying Iran might launch a pre-emptive strike on the Jewish state if it was sure Israel was about to attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized U.S. President Barack Obama's position that sanctions and diplomacy should be given more time to stop Iran's nuclear program, increasing speculation of Israeli military action ahead of U.S. elections in November. Tehran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says its atomic work is peaceful. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |