Leader's aide: Iran's weapons, equipment more advanced than western models

Supreme Leader's Advisor for Military Affairs General Seyed Reza Pardis said Iran is able to produce a number of weapons and military equipment which are more advanced than their western rivals. "The Air Force has succeeded in the production of certain weapons and equipment which are more advanced than the western models," Pardis told FNA on Monday. "The path paved by the Air Force towards self-sufficiency is highly valuable and production of airplanes, (jet) engines and designing planes were some heavy and high-class projects in which we have succeeded," he added. In relevant remarks in August, Air Force Deputy Commander for Coordination Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh announced that Iranian Air Force and Aviation Industries Organization (affiliated to the Defense Ministry) are jointly manufacturing an advanced fighter jet. “Manufacturing this military aircraft will make us fully needless of purchasing jet fighters from abroad, specially for training purposes,” Brigadier General Nasirzadeh said. “We have taken very good measures in producing aircraft ammunition, long-range ammunition and smart missiles,” he added. Also, In February, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister and Head of Iran’s Aerospace Organization General Mehdi Farahi announced that the country had tested its latest home-made air-to-air missile. “The new missile dubbed as Fakour 90 is fired from F14 fighter jets,” General Farahi said. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes. Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.