Iran begins mass producing Ya Zahra missile system

30 January 2013 airforce-technology.com

The Iranian Defence Ministry has established a new assembly line to commence mass production of its indigenously manufactured Ya Zahra air defence system.

Officially inaugurating the production line, Iranian defence minister brigadier general Ahmad Vahidi was quoted by Press TV as saying that Ya Zahra is a mobile missile system that can be deployed in any location and connected to the country's integrated air defence network.

"The air defense weapon is capable of identifying, intercepting and destroying aerial targets, including different types of aircraft, choppers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," Vahidi added.

"Other features of the system include the capability of simultaneously engaging and destroying several targets, high operational speed and fully automatic tracking."

The system's operational capabilities have already been validated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) during an air defence exercise, code-named Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4, in November 2012.

Speaking during the drill, Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base commander brigadier general Farzad Esmayeelii was earlier reported by Fars News Agency as saying that the system has been designed and manufactured to address domestic requirements.

"Ya Zahra missile system's capabilities include deployment under all types of weather conditions and on different lands as well as its mobility," Esmayeelii added.

Manufactured by the Iranian Defense Industries Organization (IDIO), Ya Zahra is a 2.2m wide short-range missile system designed to enhance Iran's defence against a range of low altitude threats.

Readily deployable in fewer than 30 minutes, the system uses two light missile launchers as a default structure, unlike the Radd aerial defence system, and is also capable of creating a cluster missile launcher network.