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Iran to produce new generation of fighter jets, destroyers: Official

Iran Materials 26 August 2012 16:19 (UTC +04:00)
The Iranian Defense Ministry has announced plans for producing a new generation of Saeqeh fighter jets and heavy destroyers in line with the country’s defensive doctrine, Press TV reported.
Iran to produce new generation of fighter jets, destroyers: Official

The Iranian Defense Ministry has announced plans for producing a new generation of Saeqeh fighter jets and heavy destroyers in line with the country's defensive doctrine, Press TV reported.

Deputy Head of the Industry and Research Institute of the Iranian Defense Ministry, Mohammad Eslami said on Sunday that the indigenous Velayat destroyer would be launched by the end of the year.

Eslami added that "the capabilities, agility and systems installed on Velayat destroyer" would be more advanced than those of Jamaran.

Eslami said producing heavy destroyers with the capability of carrying helicopters were on Defense Ministry's agenda.

The Iranian Navy launched its first domestically-manufactured destroyer, Jamaran, in the waters of the Persian Gulf in February 2010.

The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radars and electronic warfare capabilities. It has a top speed of up to 30 knots and has a helipad. It also features highly advanced anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems. The vessel has also been equipped with torpedoes and naval cannons.

The Iranian official added that the new generation of Saeqeh fighter jets will be delivered to Iran's Air Force by the next year.

"God-willing they will be delivered to the Air Force under a new name by the end of the current (Iranian) year (ending March 20, 2013)," he said about the new generation of Saeqeh fighter jets, Fars news agency reported.

"They will be an upgraded version of Saeqeh fighter jets," he noted.

The Iranian single-seat bomber has the ability to track down enemy aircraft, engage in combat, target locations on the ground, and carry a load of assorted weapons and ammunition.

Iran unveiled its first squadron of Saeqeh fighter-bombers in an air show in September 2010.

Eslami further announced that a number of aircraft missile projects are underway in Iran, and said these new missiles are fully unknown to "enemies".

"These are new weapons and are only known to us," the deputy defense minister said, and added, "In this project, our fighter jets will be equipped with new missiles and missile equipment."

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