Iran’s IRGC holds massive aerial, naval drills off Hormuz Strait

According to the IRGC’s Sepah News, the final phase of the exercises, codenamed Payambar-e A’zam (The Great Prophet) 14, kicked off on Tuesday across land, air and sea in the general area of Hormozgan Province, west of the Hormuz Strait and in the Persian Gulf. Several units from IRGC’s Navy and Aerospace Division are taking part in the maneuvers, which feature missiles, vessels, drones, and radars, and are designed to practice both offensive and defensive missions. The IRGC forces are slated to conduct missile, drone and mine-planting operations against mock enemy targets during the drills. They are also scheduled to practice tactics to cut off the connection lines of enemy vessels. Meanwhile, combat helicopters will target enemy positions with coast-to-sea missiles. Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, the maneuvers’ spokesman, said during the exercises, “the interception of ballistic and cruise missiles has been drilled, while surprising weapons and hardware — including long-range ballistic missiles capable of striking intruding vessels floating at a distance — are being used.” Nour-1 Satellite monitoring the drills For the first time, the drills are being monitored by Iran’s Nour-1 (Light-1) Satellite, which was put into orbit on April 22. Nour-1 is the country’s first multi-purpose satellite with application in the defense industry, among other areas. The launch operation was carried out by the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, which said the country’s aerospace program was expected to gather pace following the launch.   Source: Press TV