From
Foreign desk

Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, head of the Iranian Army’s Air Defence Force, says domestically developed air defence designs are steadily being converted into operational hardware, and that similar systems do not exist abroad.

Speaking on the force’s performance, Elhami stated that portions of Iran’s homegrown air defence equipment were activated during the 40-day conflict. According to him, those systems contributed to the downing of over 200 enemy aircraft.

He pointed to secrecy as a key advantage.
“The adversary has limited knowledge of the specifications, capabilities and operating methods of these systems,” Elhami said. “In several instances, they couldn’t even identify which system had intercepted their projectile, and they lacked an accurate understanding of how to neutralize it.”

The commander added that the new systems will move through further refinement once deployed and tested in the field. After completing legal approvals and technical assessments, and once they meet the required readiness standards, the designs will advance to mass production and replication.

Iran has been pushing to expand its indigenous defence industry in recent years, with a focus on air defence, missile technology and radar systems.