The air defense exercise includes forces from the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base (the central headquarters of the Iranian Army’s Air Defense), the IRGC Aerospace Force, and squadrons from the Army’s Air Force.
The war game, codenamed Velayat, is being held in an area of around half a million square kilometers in northern, central and western Iran.
It involves tactics to employ command and control systems to detect, track and intercept hostile targets, conducting air defense operations in electronic warfare, using passive aerial detection systems as well as air-based air defense gear including manned and unmanned aircraft, and countering anti-radiation and cruise missiles.
Iran’s Air Defense holds annual war games in a bid to boost capabilities to defend the country’s airspace.
In comments in September, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined the important role that Iran’s Air Defense plays in protecting the country, saying the base is on the front line of countering enemies.