Iran conducts second phase of missile tests

Iran conducts second phase of missile tests

2011-06-28 20:53:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired fourteen missiles on Tuesday on its second day of exercises, officials said.

IRGC's exercise operation, which was named Payambar-e Azam (The Great Messenger) 6, consisted of firing nine ground-to-ground Zelzal missiles and five Shahab class missiles on Tuesday, Fars News Agency reported.

Among the Shahab class missiles, which use liquid fuel, that were tested include the Shahab-3 that has a range of up to 1,250 miles (2000 kilometers) and is capable of carrying a 1,000-kilogram (2,200 pound) warhead. Also tested during Tuesday's drills were two mid-range Shahab-1 and two mid-range Shahab-2.

On Monday, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and IRGC Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami witnessed the Corps' first stage of drills, which tested the short-range Fateh-110 missiles.

The Fateh-110, which is produced in Iran's Defense Ministry's Aerospace Organization, is a a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile with at least a 200-kilometer (124-mile) range. Third generation Fateh-110 missiles were successfully test-fired for the first time last September.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Hajizadeh told the Islamic Republic News Agency on Tuesday that Iran's missile manufacturing technology was capable of making missiles with a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), noting that there were U.S. military bases in the between 120 (75 miles) to 700 kilometers (435 miles) away from Iran.

However, "trans-regional enemies of Iran are only the U.S. and the Zionist regime," Hajizadeh told the media outlet, underlining that the country's missile capabilities were not a threat against European countries.

In addition, Hajizadeh said Iranian forces had already shot down several U.S. drone planes in the area, and that a group of Russian experts had visited the region to see the aircraft.

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