As the United States and its regional allies are beefing-up missile defenses in the Gulf, Iran announces the development of a light plane called “Faez” (Fars News, February 8 2010) and the inauguration of two production lines for two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to Fars News (February 8, 2010),

[t]he two hi-tech drones named ‘Ra’d’ (Thunder) and ‘Nazir’ (Harbinger) are capable of conducting long-range reconnaissance, patrolling, assault and bombing missions with high precision.

Ra’d which is a UAV of choice for assault and bombing missions has the capability to destroy the specified targets with high pinpoint precision.

Experts believe that once the UAV enters the scene of aerial missions, it would enhance the reconnaissance, patrolling and defensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Force.

Yes, I am suggesting a connection here. As I understand it, small planes and stealthy drones could be used to overcome missile defense systems (either in concert with or prior to an attack with ballistic missiles).

Iran also sends a message to Russia: Heshmatollah Kasiri, a high-ranking commander of the Iranian Air Force, was quoted as saying that Iran will develop an air defense system which will be superior to Russia’s S-300.

“Today, we are building all our air defence weapons by ourselves … the only thing we wanted to import was the Russian S-300 which so far they have not delivered for some unacceptable reasons [...] But our air defence experts and scientists found a way and in very near future we will produce an air defence system which has the capabilities of the Russian S-300 or even more.” (Middle East Online, February 8, 2010)

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