Iran issues warning to two spy drones

TEHRAN (defapress) – Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base Commander Farzad Esmaili recounted on issuance of warning to U2 and RQ4 spy planes on March 21 and August 26, 2017.

News ID: 65818

Date: 03 September 2017 - 14:18

Commander Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, while speaking at a live IRIB program, recalled that Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base had been established in 2008 at the order of the Iranian Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Majority of attacks are launched through air due to speed and precision of operation,” said the official adding "unlike that past, all existing infrastructure in a country is counted as part of the border and national achievements need to be defended no matter where in the country they are situated.”

He noted that U2 was an American identification aircraft whose mission was to carry out spy operations as evidenced by an attitude of 80,000 feet and the pilot’s uniform which enjoyed LO technology (low observable technology). Although the pilot had no right to reply to messages, he was forced to react upon receiving simultaneous alerts from two Iranian radars. Otherwise, the aircraft would have been targeted by the country’s missile systems.

Brig. Gen. Esmaili later reiterated that the pilot could have remained silent in case he knew the warnings were bluffs; "the fact is, no false show exists in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the operation was precisely and accurately carried out in no longer than 30 seconds.”

On recent infiltration of RQ4 drone, the commander said only special radar technologies can detect the aircraft and the pilots are either hundreds of kilometers away or control the aircraft through satellite.

"Through a 40-second operation last week, we targeted the spy plane, which is said to be a cutting-edge technology designed by global arrogance,” added the official.

Esmaili, while referring to safe passage of 1.5 million passenger planes, jet fighters, helicopters and drones through Iran’s safe air space, said spy aircraft will be confronted with by all means. "As attested by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Iran enjoys the most secure air space despite all threats and sanctions.”

"Over 60 million foreign passengers have flown through Iran’s sky and at times passing airplanes have been assisted without their own request,” highlighted the commander stressing that Iran observes Islamic human rights under all circumstances.

Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base commander later touched upon multi-billion-dollar purchases of weaponry by certain regional countries explaining that such measures were a waste of national funds while Iran is firmly defending 3,700 points by relying on domestic capabilities and efficient human resources.

"More than 750 elite PhD holders are working at Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base and have managed to manufacture a cosmic radar with a range of 3,000 kilometers,” said the official underlining that the Air Base can now even feel the breath of enemies inside the country’s territory.

He further stated that great many of achievements by Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base over recent year will be soon unveiled.

Brig. Gen. Esmaili also pointed to settlement of S-300 long range surface-to-air missile system in various parts of the country explaining "the system was successfully tested during Damavand military drill is functioning properly.”

"Meanwhile, before its arrival, necessary infrastructure for establishment of S-300 had been created through indigenous technologies,” underscored the commander.