Iran has announced that it will begin five days of nationwide air defense war games on Tuesday in order to improve its defense capabilities, Tehran Times reported.
The Air Force, the National Police, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and the Basij (volunteer) forces will take part in the three-stage war games since the military exercises are meant to increase the integration of the country's military and security forces, Air Force Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, the commander of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Anti-Aircraft Base, told reporters on Sunday.
In addition, a domestically-manufactured radar system with a range of 3000 kilometers will be unveiled during the war games, Migani stated.
The country's upgraded military equipment will also be tested during the war games, he added.
He went on to say that Iran plans to manufacture a long-range missile system more powerful than the Russian S-300 system.
The Kremlin has formally banned the sale of S-300 air defence missile systems to Iran three months after new UN sanctions. A decree was issued by President Dmitry Medvedev prohibiting the sale, which had been in the pipeline for years.
The Islamic Republic has made strenuous efforts to upgrade its military equipment, he added.
On Saturday, Air Force Colonel Faramarz Rouhafza said that Iran intends to upgrade its anti-aircraft systems to make them efficient enough to be able to defend the country against cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Miqani said Iran has also conducted defense exercises at some of its nuclear facilities.
"This year, we have carried out tactical drills that simulated real combat at Fordo, Tehran, Natanz, Bushehr, Isfahan, and the western region of the country," where Iran's nuclear plants are located, he stated.