The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement on Thursday declared the end of its massive drills in the Southern parts of Iran and the Persian Gulf, stressing full preparedness to give a crushing response to any possible aggression against the country.
“The exercises which were held with the participation of the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force in the general area of Hormozgan province, the Persian Gulf and the West of the strategic Strait of Hormuz ended successfully with the implementation of all plans and combined operational exercises on the land, sea, and in the air and space,” the statement said.
“Complex and various operational wargames, including firing [buried] ballistic missiles from the depths of the earth, destroying (hypothetical) enemy’s radar systems, firing coast-to-sea and ship-to-ship missiles to destroy the warships, drone drills to attack the enemy aircraft carrier’s command bridge, capturing hostile vessels by carrying out heliborne operations and using surface-to-surface and coast-to-sea missiles in the presence of observers of Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters were exercised in their best form,” it added.
The statement noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never started a war, stressing that safeguarding independence, territorial integrity, security, national interests and the geographical area of the country, specially the Persian Gulf islands, comprises its defensive strategy and it clearly and strongly considers decisive, crushing and finishing response of the IRGC and other powerful defenders of the country against the aggressors as one of its main and negligible principles.
Great Prophet (Payambar-e Azam) wargames are annual missile tests and exercises conducted by Iran’s IRGC. The first series of the wargames began in July 2008.
On the second day of the Great Prophet-14 wargames on Wednesday, the IRGC fired ballistic missiles buried deep into the ground during the second day of massive ‘Great Prophet-14’ drills in the Southern parts of the country on Wednesday.
The successful firing of ballistic missiles fully hidden in camouflage deep into the ground is an important achievement that could pose serious challenges to enemy intelligence agencies.
In the final stage of the IRGC’s drills, which took place in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC Aerospace Force’s drones attacked the enemy’s mock aircraft carrier and targeted its command tower and bridge.
Also, the IRGC’s Sukhoi-22 fighters bombed and destroyed pre-determined targets in Farour Islands with winged bombs.
Destroying hypothetical enemy targets designed much smaller than the actual size with a variety of smart bombs was another part of this phase of the exercises.
The IRGC Aerospace and Naval Forces’ joint exercises were an important part of the drills and demonstrated surprising tactics, including the establishment of the two forces’ joint command systems, joint control, combined tactics, and combat methods.
Successful missile combat operations were carried out by firing two surface-to-surface Hurmoz and Fateh missiles, and a ballistic missile at specific targets, as well as launching precision-striking air defense missiles.
Also, Shahed 181, Mohajer, and Bavar drones successfully attacked and destroyed hypothetical enemy targets and positions at this stage of the drills.
Meantime, surface-to-surface missile operations, coast-to-sea operations, heavy artillery firing and offensive mine-laying operations to cut off enemy lines were demonstrated on the second day of the massive wargames.
Also, the firing off all kinds of artillery, RPGs and light weapons by combat forces in line and around Iranian islands was part of the drills to reportedly show the firm determination of the border guards in defending the country.
The IRGC announced in a statement on Tuesday that it has started the final phase of the ‘Great Prophet-14’ drills in the South of the country, and added that Nour-1 Satellite, that was launched on April 22, is being used to monitor the wargames.
The drills are underway with the participation of the IRGC Navy and Aerospace forces in the Hormozgan province and extend to the depth of the Iranian soil.
IRGC Navy’s missile, ship, and drone units as well as IRGC Aerospace’s missile, drone, and radar units are due to conduct operational drills in the wargames, the statement said.
The wargames are being monitored for the first time by the Nour-1 Satellite that was launched successfully on April 22.
The IRGC launched the satellite aboard Qassed (Carrier) satellite carrier during an operation that was staged in Dasht-e Kavir, Iran’s sprawling Central desert. The Launcher Qassed is a three-stage launcher using compound solid-liquid fuel.
The satellite was placed into the orbit 425km above Earth’s surface.
The satellite was sent to space on the anniversary of the IRGC establishment (April 22, 1979).
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.
The Iranian Armed Forces several times a year test their preparedness and capabilities as well as newly-manufactured weapons systems in different wargames.
Iranian Armed Forces recently test-fire different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.
Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes.
Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran’s wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor.
