Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has received the new homemade ballistic missile, Emad, the deputy IRGC Commander, Brigadier General Hossein Salami said.
Without giving any details, Salami said that the Emad missile (updated version of the Qadr missile) may be used in the upcoming IRGC military drill, Fars news agency reported Dec. 28.
Last October Iran test fired Emad missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, which raised disputes about possible violations of UN Security Council resolutions. The missile meets the minimum requirements for delivering nuclear weapons (500 kilogram payload over 300 kilometers).
The Emad is the latest generation of Iran's long-range ground-to-ground ballistic missiles, capable of guidance and control technologies to assure intended targets are struck, according to the Iranian officials.
The missile's engine operates on liquid fuel and its range reaches 1700 kilometers, while the Islamic Republic insists on calling Emad a long-range missile.
Under international restrictions, Iran has turned to domestic talents to improve its military power, frequently unveiling new products.
As a result of the embargo, Iran's military capability is drastically limited, compared to US and NATO forces.
Thus, the country's focus on smart munitions, light attack craft, mines, and ballistic missiles, are part of the asymmetrical conflict war policy the country would rely on in the event of conflict with a global military power.
Since 1992, Iran has been manufacturing its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radar, boats, submarines and fighter aircraft. Iran also unveiled its first long-range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in 2010.