Iran triples defense exports in one year despite embargo, sanctions
Iranian defense minister says that the Islam Republic plans to further boost its military industry and develop more advanced capabilities.
The Iranian defense minister says his ministry’s export of military defense products tripled in the past Persian calendar year (ending on March 20).
Iran's defense exports tripled in just one year, spanning between March 2022 and March 2023 per the Persian calendar, announced the Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said on Saturday.
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Ashtiani said that the ministry aims to develop the country's military capabilities and production capacity, in addition to civilian goods and services.
He also stressed that the ministry is also seeking to upgrade missile, drone, air defense, and electronic warfare technology, as well as to enhance defense diplomacy with a focus on boosting expert capacity.
“Due to the efforts of the Defense Ministry, we registered a threefold increase in exports, a twofold rise in the production of civilian goods and services, and an 81 percent increase in military production last year,” he told senior officials at the defense ministry.
“This path will continue with more strength and endeavor this [Persian calendar] year which is named ‘Inflation Control; Growth in Production," he added, confirming that the ministry is ready to maintain Iran's military, scientific, and technological authority in the most complex conditions imposed by the Islamic Republic's enemies.
Earlier this week, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps IRGC unveiled its first hypersonic ballistic missile, named Fattah, which is capable of bypassing advanced air defense systems.
Fattah, whose name was chosen by Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, has a 1,400 km range with a 12-15 Mach speed and is characterized by a very high speed and the ability to maneuver against anti-missile systems.
Read more: Iranian Fattah missile a challenge to Israeli anti-air systems: Media
🔴🇮🇷 More pictures of the Iranian-made #Fatah Hypersonic missile, which was revealed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps #IRGC this morning.#Iran #IRGC #موشک_هایپرسونیک_فتاح https://t.co/FfgVAL3TZl pic.twitter.com/xbX6HzuspK
— Haidar Akarar (@HaidarAkarar) June 6, 2023
Earlier on May 25, Iran unveiled its latest ballistic missile, named "Khorramshahr-4 long-range strategic missile."
The self-guided missile is one of the most sophisticated weapons developed by scientists at the Defense Ministry's Aerospace Organization, with a range of 2,000 km and a 1,500 kg high-explosive payload.
Khorramshahr-4 is fitted with a complex liquid fuel engine, which is integrated into the missile's fuel tank reducing its height to nearly 13 meters.