Iran Unveils Laser-Guided Smart Munitions
News number: 9010173037 17:18 | 2012-01-30
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9010173037

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Defense Ministry unveiled the country's first
home-made laser-guided smart munitions in a ceremony here in Tehran on
Monday.

The new type of ammunition, called Bassir, was unveiled by Iranian Defense
Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi in a ceremony in Defense Industries
Organization.

Speaking to reporters, Vahidi said that the new munitions are suitable to
target static and mobile targets with high precision strike.

"The laser system used in the munitions is able to track and identify
targets and locate and assess their distance," Vahidi noted, adding that
Iran is among the only five world countries which possess the capability to
manufacture this types of munitions.

Yesterday, Vahidi had said that Iran plans to display several home-made
achievements in different military and technological fields in the near
future.

New home-made satellite carrier rockets, smart ammunition, aeronautic
products, as well as new electronic and telecommunication devices will be
unveiled, Vahidi told reporters after a cabinet meeting here in Tehran on
Sunday.

He said that the new products would be unveiled during the Ten-Day Dawn
ceremonies from February 1 to 11, celebrating the victory of the Islamic
Revolution back in 1979.

The minister further announced that the country would unveil a new
domestically-manufactured naval surveillance plane and a new cruise missile
in the near future.

Iran has taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types
of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran
launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on
Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced
its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and
arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a
threat to any other country.