Iran Army Ground Force conducts missile, airborne operations during massive drills

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Force has successfully performed armored operations and fired upgraded domestically-developed missiles during massive military exercises in the central province of Isfahan. 

The exercises were carried out on Thursday in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Major General Gholam-Ali Rashid, and Chief Commander of Iran Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.

Military helicopters operated by the force also conducted heliborne operations during the two-day drills, codenamed Eghtedar (Authority) 1401, which are underway in the Nasrabad region of the province.

Speaking on the sidelines of the drills, Bagheri hailed the airborne operations carried out by the Ground Force’s helicopters, stating that the exercises showed the high preparedness of the helicopter unit of the Ground Force.

Moreover, reconnaissance and surveillance missions were conducted by indigenous Mohajer-6 ISTAR unmanned aerial vehicles.

Missile and artillery units of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Force also launched optimized and upgraded missiles as well as smart munitions against designated targets.

Offensive and defensive electronic warfare tactics, parachute landing fall, airdrops and close air support (CAS) actions are also scheduled to be practiced during the drills.

Earlier, Commander of the Iran Army Air Force Brigadier General Yousef Ghorbani said that self-protection systems domestically developed to improve the safety level of the force’s helicopters and upgraded Shafaq (Twilight) missiles were successfully tested during Eghtedar 1401 drills.

He added that helicopters equipped with night-vision devices (NVDs) were used for the first time in a completely offensive manner, and they successfully carried out a night combat operation.

Helicopters equipped with self-protection systems also launched flares during a confrontation with man-portable rocket launchers.

Ghorbani also referred to the successful test of upgraded Shafaq missiles and said the accuracy and range of the missiles have been significantly improved.

They were fired from Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helicopters and could hit designated targets with pinpoint accuracy, the senior Iranian military figure said.

The Iran Army Ground Force started the two-day Authority 1401 exercises on Wednesday. According to Rashid, the drills have been designed based on potential future wars and predicted threats.

The military exercises involve infantry, armored, artillery, air force, drone, engineering, airborne and electronic warfare units and with the support of air force planes, said General Karim Cheshak, the spokesman for the drills.

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