Iran’s military recently launched new drills in the western and northern air defence zones, focusing on the Fordow and Khondab sites, which house critical uranium enrichment and heavy water facilities.
Details of the exercises
The drills, called “Eqtedar” (meaning “might” in Farsi), started on Sunday in realistic battlefield conditions. The Air Defence Force, operating under the Iranian Army’s integrated air defence network, led the exercise.
The operation involved both offensive and defensive missions. Units for missile defence, radar systems, electronic warfare, and intelligence gathering took part. Manned and unmanned aircraft from the Air Force also participated. During the drills, the focus was on protecting key sites against simulated aerial and missile strikes.
The first phase included the successful destruction of invading unmanned aircraft using the Khordad 15 and Talash systems. There were also scenarios involving the tactical movement of defence systems and the testing of fire tactics for missile units.
Aimed objectives and overall strategy
The drills are designed to assess the combat readiness and operational effectiveness of the air defence systems. They provide a chance to evaluate both tactical and technical performances in real-life battlefield scenarios, including the practice of passive defence strategies.
These exercises form part of a nationwide series that began last week. The first phase took place near the Natanz nuclear facility. The Iranian Air Defence Force worked alongside the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) air forces. They conducted comprehensive point defence against multiple air threats under complex electronic warfare conditions.
General Ali Muhammad Naini of the IRGC explained that the drills, expected to run until mid-March, are responding to new security threats. Various IRGC branches, including the navy and paramilitary Basij forces, are also involved.
