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The
announcement comes at a time of rising tension between Iran and
United States. Iran shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone
in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June. Tehran says
the drone was over its territory, but Washington says it was in
international airspace.
State television showed the Falaq, a vehicle and a mobile radar
installation it said was an improved version of the Gamma
system, which military experts said was of Russian origin.
Western military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its weapons
capabilities, though concerns about its long-range ballistic
missile program contributed to Washington last year exiting the
pact that Iran sealed with world powers in 2015 to rein in its
nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of economic
sanctions.
"This system has high capabilities and can detect all types of
cruise and ballistic missiles and drones," Brigadier General
Alireza Sabahifard, commander of the regular army's air
defenses, was quoted as saying by semi-official news agency Mehr.
Sabahifard said the Falaq was a locally overhauled version of a
system which had been out of operation for a long time, Mehr
reported. He did not give the system's country of origin.
U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Tehran after
pulling out of the nuclear deal, which its other signatories are
struggling to maintain as Washington also lobbies to establish a
maritime security coalition to safeguard shipping in the Gulf in
a related standoff with Iran over oil supplies.
(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by John Stonestreet)
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