Tehran
Iran claimed on Saturday it has successfully test- fired an upgraded version of a short- range ballistic missile with improved accuracy, increasing the Islamic Republics capability to strike both land and naval targets.
Defence Minister Gen Ahmad Vahidi said the solidfueled Fateh- 110 has a range of 300 kms. He claimed the weapon could strike with pin- point precision, making it the most accurate weapon of its kind in Irans arsenal. ‘By reaching this generation of the Fateh- 110, a new capability has been added to our armed forces in striking sea and land targets,’Vahidi said. ‘Few countries in the world possess the technology to build such missiles.’Irans military leaders have said they believe future wars will be air- and seabased and Tehran has sought to upgrade its air defense systems and naval power in anticipation of such a possibility. Iran has also been pushing to upgrade its missiles, which already can target Israel and US bases in the Middle East. The Pentagon released a report in June noting significant advances in Iranian missile technology, acknowledging that the Islamic Republic has improved the accuracy and firing capabilities of its missiles.
The Fateh- 110, or Conqueror, is a single- stage solid- propellant, surface- tosurface missile put into service in 2002. The earlier version of the domesticallyproduced missile had a range of 200 kms.
The weapon was developed by Irans Aerospace Industries Organisation.
AP
