Iranian Army kicks off main phase of ‘Eqtedar 1403’ air defense drill in south western areas

The Iranian Army launched the second phase of the “Eqtedar 1403” air defense drill, focusing on the protection of the national airspace amid efforts to further bolster the country’s defense capabilities.

News ID: 5932

Date: 04 February 2025 - 14:57

TABNAK, Feb 04: Iran’s homegrown ‘Majid’ air defense missile system took the lead during the new stage of the drill by bringing down various types of pilotless aircraft on Tuesday.

During this phase of the comprehensive maneuver, tactics to detect, track, intercept and shoot down hostile targets are set to be practiced.

The air defense units participating in the exercise will employ indigenous radar systems as well as a surveillance network in the general areas of the drill, which covers the southwestern and central sectors of Iran.

Command and control centers will use homegrown sophisticated active and passive radar systems, and utilize signal and electro-optical monitoring to track hostile targets in the war game zone.

Upon interception, smart command-and-control systems will assign appropriate air defense systems to neutralize threats.

Under the operational command of the Joint Air Defense Base of Iran, the ‘Eqtedar 1403’ air defense drill seeks to integrate efforts from the Army’s Air Defense Force and the Air Force.

The exercise is designed to simulate realistic battlefield conditions, providing an opportunity to test a variety of advanced, domestically produced air defense systems.

The systems will engage in countering a range of threats, including aerial assaults, missile strikes, and electronic warfare tactics.

By recreating such scenarios, the drill aims to evaluate and enhance the readiness of Iran’s air defense forces in responding to potential external threats.

Iranian military forces hold routine exercises according to a detailed schedule in various parts of the country in order to test their weaponry and equipment and evaluate their combat preparedness.

The country’s officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will never be subject to negotiations.