News / Defense

Iranian fighter jets fire domestically made missiles on 2nd day of large-scale military drills

Friday, 11 January 2019 11:10 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 11 January 2019 11:29 AM ]

Photo of Iranian fighter jets on the second day of the eighth edition of massive Air Force drills annually held in Iran, on Jan. 11, 2019 (Photo by IRNA)

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) launched the second day of its massive military drills in the central province of Isfahan on Friday, targeting various positions with domestically made missiles and smart bombs.

On the second day of the drills, the F-4 Phantom fighter jets fired Maverick tactical air-to-ground missiles and the domestically-manufactured “Qassed” smart bombs.

Laser-guided, anti-radar and thermal missiles as well as ultralight aircraft were also tested during the maneuvers attended by all Iranian air force bases.

Various bombers, large military transport aircraft, interceptor and reconnaissance planes, and patrol aircraft were used in the drills.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and offense drones were also used for reconnaissance operations and bombing mock enemy positions.

Photo of Iranian jet fighters preparing to attend the second day of the eighth edition of massive Air Force drills in Isfahan on Jan. 11, 2019 (Photo by ISNA)

A spokesperson for the war game said the warplanes detonated ground targets of the hypothetical enemy by dropping 2,000-pound Qassed standoff bombs, which are smart, have pinpoint accuracy, and have been developed by the IRIAF experts, Tasnim news agency reported.

The two-day maneuvers are meant to boost the Iranian air force’s capabilities in defending the country's airspace against any possible aggression.

The eighth edition of the annual drills, dubbed Defenders of Velayat Skies, began at Shahid Babaei Air Base in Isfahan province on Thursday following days of preparations.

The maneuvers put to test dozens of bombers, hunter and interceptor jets as well as transport, refueling, reconnaissance and patrolling aircraft besides unmanned aerial vehicles.

PressTV-Iranian Air Force launches massive military drills

Iran's Army Air Force beings two-day military exercises, involving bombers, drones and missiles, to test its capabilities in defending the country’s airspace.

The war games featured Sukhoi Su-24, F-4 and F-7 Phantoms, MiG-29, F-14 jets, Boeing 707 and 7047 aerial refueling planes and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, along with drones equipped with precision strike missiles and long-range smart bombs.

In the course of the drills, Iranian air forces will practice air-to-air shooting and shooting against aerial targets as well as using smart, indigenous and upgraded bombs, he added.

Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country.

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