Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 20
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian army's air defense units held a military drill in Khondab heavy water nuclear facility, central Iran aimed at boosting preparedness to repel surprise attacks of aerial vehicles.
During the drill drones flied over the facility in order to test air defense's deterrent power, on time reaction and its capabilities for identifying suspicious flying objects in this area, Shokrollah Hasanbeigi, deputy governor of Markazi province said, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Oct. 20.
He further said that in the exercise, an optic artillery system named Safat shot down a drone with a low radar cross section flying over Khondab nuclear site.
The drill was part of large-scale military exercise dubbed Muharram which is being staged in the Western and Northwestern provinces of Iran , the official said.
Iran's heavy water production plant which is capable of producing 16 tons of heavy water per year is located near Khondab city, Markazi province.
The Muharram military drill is aimed at enhancing the country's defensive power, practicing modern trainings and assessing the forces' swift reaction and use of state-of-the-art equipment.
The two-day wargame has a security-defensive approach and employs Army's latest achievements, according to the Iranian military officials.
Reportedly, a number of weapons have been tested during the drill including the 'Baher' sniper rifle, the 'Dehlavieh' anti armor missile, and the RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade (NATO designation: Vampir).
All of the mentioned weapons have been produced in Iran and handed over to the armed forces of the Islamic Republic.