Article Posted on : - Jul 05, 2011

A file photo.

TEHRAN (BNS): Iran plans to test fire new supersonic cruise missiles during the ongoing missile drill in the Persian Gulf, a top military commander has said.

The new surface-to-sea missiles, designed to hit ships and forces at sea, will be test launched as part of the Great Prophet IV wargames being conducted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

“Last year, we achieved (the technology of) new anti-ship missiles that can hit targets with multiple speed of sound,” Commander of the Aerospace Division of IRGC, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, was quoted as saying by the Iranian media.

The upgraded missiles will soon be used in the naval phase of the Great Prophet IV missile drills in the Persian Gulf, the official said.

Iran began the major missile manoeuver on June 27, during which it test fired a range of ballistic missiles. According to state media reports, the elite Revolutionary Guards fired nine Zelzal missiles, two Shahab-1 and two Shahab-2 missiles in the second day of the drill.

The country also unveiled underground missile silos for the first time during the military exercise.

The missile drill will now enter its second phase, Hajizadeh said.

“From the middle of the week the second phase of the drills will continue with the launching of naval exercises and the use of surface-to-sea missiles,” he said.