Iran’s military and the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have deployed some of their best air defenses around two major nuclear sites: the Fordow Nuclear Site in Qom Province, and the Khonab Nuclear Complex, which features a heavy water reactor and is situated in Markazi Province, reported Sputnik on January 12. Israel claims that they destroyed Iran’s previous air defense systems at the sites during an attack last year.
“Photos published by the Mehr News Agency Saturday show components of what appears to be the Khordad 15 air and missile defense system being deployed,” noted Sputnik.
“The Khordad 15 reportedly has the ability to detect, intercept and target up to six projectiles at once, including drones, cruise missiles and manned aircraft, at ranges up to 200 km using the Sayyad-3 missile. The system is also said to have anti-stealth capabilities, with stealth targets targetable for destruction at ranges up to 45 km. The Khordad 15 is one of the newest and most sophisticated in Iran’s air defense arsenal.”
Exercises and drills for defense of these two areas are planned to be able to withstand enemy aerial and missile strikes, as well as electronic warfare threats.
Additionally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force revealed on Jan. 10 that Iran had built a new underground ‘missile city’, reported Sputnik. This was revealed in the context of the ongoing military exercises, as well as the Israeli escalation of threats against Iran.
Earlier this week, footage was released on PressTV showing the subterranean facility (at an undisclosed location), and included shots of the Emad, Qadr, and Qiam-series missiles. The footage was aired on national TV, and they described the missile base as a “dormant volcano deep in the heart of mountains…The volcano lying under these mountains can erupt in the shortest time possible.” They also noted that 90 percent of the facility was not shown for security reasons.
On Friday, Salami said that “new missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cities” will be unveiled in the near future, while speaking at an unidentified meeting in the Iranian city of Abadan, reported PressTV.
