Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran boosts its armed forces with the production of a new generation of jet fighters totally designed and developed by its local experts.

Iranian Air Force Second-in-Command Brigadier General Alireza Barkhor said on February 2 the new generation of the jet fighter Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) is equipped with two separate cockpits.

He said the aircraft will be unveiled and become operational in the coming months. The fighter jet is capable of carrying and firing various types of rockets, bombs and missiles, and is fitted with a state-of-the-art radar system.

The new aircraft enjoys high maneuverability as well as rapid acceleration and operates with little error.

Iran unveiled an older version of Saeqeh fighter-bombers in an air show in September 2010.

Earlier in November, Iran unveiled its biggest domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dubbed Fotros.

The Fotros drone can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance operations and has the potential to carry out combat operations once armed with air-to-surface missiles and other types of rockets.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.

Iran has also modernized the U.S.-made surface-to-air missile system MIM-23 Hawk.

Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, Farzad Esmaili said experts of the Khatam al-Anbia have modernized and optimized the system.

MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile was also produced outside the US in Western Europe, Japan and Iran.

Esmaili said the medium range of the system has been improved and the system's medium and high radar range has also been increased, while the low radar range has doubled.

He noted that the system's radar efficiency has increased by 40 percent, after optimization.

Esmaili further said the system has improved fire control system, as well as updated monitors and cooling mechanisms. He said the system was tested by local experts.

Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base has started using home-made simulators for Hawk and Skyguard air defense missile systems.

Iran has repeatedly assured other nations, especially regional neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.