Today, all developments and progresses in the cultural, industrial, and defence arenas are based on scientific researches. The world's big powers on the assumption of tightening their control over others as well as prolonging their survival spend astronomical amounts on scientific researches in the military field. They think the more lethal weapons of mass destruction they manufacture the more their ill-defined interests would be secured. However, Iran, which is an Islamic Republic in the true sense of the term, does not believe in destructive doctrines. But in order to be safe from the evil of big powers it has to build strong defences by paying special attention to scientific research in this vital field. Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the country was dependent on the favours of the West, especially that of the US, which supplied militarily equipment that could not be used by Iranians and was under the supervision and maintenance of the Americans. The Pahlavi did not care for the welfare and progress of Iran and used to spend huge amounts of the people's hard earned money, to buy weapons from the US and other western countries that were of no use to the regime, but was necessary for development of the military industries of the West.Moreover, Iran did not have strategic weapons and the only defence equipment it was allowed to produce was bullets. Beyond that, the maintenance of military equipments was in the hands of foreign experts, with Iranians not having the least right of access. The victory of the Islamic Revolution changed the equations. The Americans and the West European experts were kicked out, and as part of its motto of independence and self-sufficiency, Iran embarked on development of defence industries. The 8 year-war the US imposed on the newly founded Islamic Republic through Saddam was a blessing in disguise. It accelerated the pace of development in the defence field, since the economic and other sanctions imposed by the West made the Iranians explore new grounds. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the Iranian scientists and engineers strove to modernize and manufacture their defence requirements. Soon by the end of the war and its aftermath, Iran mastered the technique to manufacture different kinds of advanced and strategic weapons to defend the country.Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys the capability of manufacturing sophisticated missiles, tanks, aircraft, vessels, submarines, electronic warfare devices, as well as naval and aerial software and hardware. The important factor is that all this equipment is indigenously manufactured, and that too at a fraction of the cost of foreign arms. Iranian experts have produced shoulder-launching missiles, surface-to-air medium-range missiles, surface-to-surface long-range missiles, laser-guided missiles, missile interceptors and also missiles to launch rockets into space. The Defense Ministry successfully test fired the latest prototype of Shahab 3 missile. Engineer Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi said the defense shield proved stronger than the former version in terms of destruction and precision in guided targets. Iran successfully flight tested the final version of the Fateh-110 in September, 2002. Several weeks later in mid-September 2002 the Aerospace Industries Organization opened a plant to mass produce the Fateh-110.The Fateh-110 is a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile that is produced domestically in Iran, including its solid fuel propellant. Iran has begun production of its domestically made supersonic surface-to-air missile system, capable of targeting enemy fighter jets and choppers. The first version of Iran's smart missile system named 'Shahin' had a range of over 40 kilometers. Colonel Yousuf-Ali Mahmoudi, the main designer of the missile, said this achievement clearly proved the ineffectiveness of the West's sanctions. Iranian experts have developed The Misaq 1, a portable infrared guided surface-to-air missile. It is an all-aspect passive infrared homing system. The Misaq 2 is the more advanced version and started mass production in February 2006. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran pursues detente and cooperation with all countries for the sake of regional and international peace and security.The Islamic Republic of Iran has also successfully tested the Toufan Missile, which is an advanced armour-piercing trajectory with a range of 3,850 meters. It can easily penetrate and blow up an armoured tank by drilling at least 76 centimeters into it. Toufan is equipped with a system that helps it to identify the target in night and could be shot from a moving chopper in that air. After the launch of a modified version of an advanced ballistic missile by Iran, a US defense official confirms the success of the Iranian mission. According to Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, the new version of the advanced surface-to-surface missile, the Sejjil-1 and Sejjil-2, has a longer range than that of Shahab-3, which reportedly has a range of up to 2000 kilometers.The solid-fuel, two-stage Sejjil missile with two engines, is capable of reaching a very high altitude and therefore has a longer range than that of the Shahab-3 model. General Najjar said the solid fuel used in the Sejjil-2 missile provides the possibility of its mass storage. The missile is a defensive tool and guarantees national security and protection of the country's borders. Joining the West's military experts, the Zionist entity's military officer Gay Abram admitted that making use of solid fuel in the advanced Sejjil Missile was an unprecedented leap in Iran's missile industry. Iran's missile capability increased remarkably after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. In the arena of naval defense, the Iranian experts have produced missiles named Ra'd, Kowsar and Nour, in addition to other kinds of missiles such as Shahab, Zelzaal, Fateh and Toufan. Iranian methodology is to strongly stand against any threat and defend peace in the region and the world for the sake of protecting national interests. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Iranians are peace-lovers. However, he added a dignified nation proceeds with might, bravery and of course, lover and friendship towards others.
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