Iran Claims It Has Produced Laser-Guided Smart Munitions

The Iranian Defense Ministry unveiled the country's first home-made laser-guided smart munitions in a ceremony here in Tehran on Monday, January 30, 2012. The new type of ammunition, called Bassir, was unveiled by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi in a ceremony in Defense Industries Organization.

Speaking to reporters, Vahidi said that the new munitions are suitable to target static and mobile targets with high precision strike.


"The laser system used in the munitions is able to track and identify targets and locate and assess their distance," Vahidi noted, adding that Iran is among the only five world countries which possess the capability to manufacture this types of munitions.

Yesterday, Vahidi had said that Iran plans to display several home-made achievements in different military and technological fields in the near future.


New home-made satellite carrier rockets, smart ammunition, aeronautic products, as well as new electronic and telecommunication devices will be unveiled, Vahidi told reporters after a cabinet meeting here in Tehran on Sunday.


He said that the new products would be unveiled during the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies from February 1 to 11, celebrating the victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979.

The minister further announced that the country would unveil a new domestically-manufactured naval surveillance plane and a new cruise missile in the near future.

Iran has taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. 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.