IRGC naval forces with new anti-ship cruise missiles

The Iranian Defense Ministry supplied large numbers of a newly produced powerful ant-ship cruise missile to the country\'s Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) to boost Iran\'s naval defense power.During a ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, the Defense Ministry delivered the Qader (Mighty) anti-ship cruise missiles to the Army\'s Navy and IRGC\'s naval force. Addressing the ceremony, also attended by Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and Commander of the IRGC Naval Force Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, Vahidi said that Iran has managed to mass-produce the missile in the shortest time possible. He stressed that production of the missiles showed that the Iranian Defense Industries are able to satiate the Iranian Armed Forces\' missile needs. As regards the features and specifications of the new missile, Vahidi said Qader is an anti-ship cruise missile with a range of 200km and enjoys a short launch time and is able to hit all naval vessels, including frigates and warships, as well as onshore enemy targets. 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.