Iran to test two new cruise missiles

TEHRAN,May 14(MNA) – Two new domestically manufactured cruise missiles will be tested during the Velayat-92 naval drill, the commander of the Iranian Navy told on Monday. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari also said that the Navy was making preparations to stage the Velayat-92 war games, adding that it was more than likely that the maneuvers would be held in the second half of the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21. An Iranian Defense Ministry official said on April 17 that Iran would unveil an upgraded surface-to-surface cruise missile in the near future. “The missile is an upgraded version of previous missiles, and it will increase our defense capabilities in sea battles,” Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi said. In addition, the general said that Iran would introduce new domestically manufactured ballistic, cruise, and anti-tank missiles in the current Iranian calendar year. On February 24, Iran test-fired a short-range anti-vessel radar-guided Zafar (Victory) cruise missile in the Persian Gulf. The missile successfully hit the designated target. The production line of the Zafar cruise missile was officially launched in February 2012. The domestically designed coast-to-sea Qader cruise missile was also test-fired in January during the Velayat-91 naval drill.