Surface-to-Surface Missiles to Be Tested at Vahdat-77 Maneuver
December 10, 1998 - 0:0
BANDAR ABBAS Iran will test fire surface-to-surface missiles in the last stage of the Vahdat-77 (unity-77) maneuvers, being conducted in the Persian Gulf, said the war games spokesman Issa Golverdi, here Wednesday. He added that the Persian Gulf states have been informed of the missile test in advance. Golverdi hailed the coverage by regional mass media of the military exercises and the presence of an Omani military delegation in the drill.
He expressed hope that with serious resolve of the Persian Gulf states, the desire of the Muslim nations of the region for joint cooperation among their states to safeguard security of the Persian Gulf and for withdrawal from the region of foreign military fleets would be materialized. The spokesman referred to acquaintance of Iranian and Omani army personnel with each other and with their operational capabilities as the best achievement of the war games.
He described optimal use of operational capabilities of the naval units of the army and of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in the tactical phase as another considerable achievement of the drill. He termed the tactical phase of the maneuver in which latest warfare tactics were employed as a suitable opportunity to assess the capabilities of the participating units. Golverdi added that the drill is aimed at upgrading the combat readiness of the participating forces through employment of modern equipment.
Vahdat-77 is part of the joint maneuvers held annually by the IRGC and the army's naval forces. The 5-day maneuvers, which started Friday, covers an area of 20,000 square miles from the Strait of Hormuz and Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman to the middle of the Persian Gulf. Some 40 warships, frigates and vessels, marine divisions, helicopters, missile divisions, anti-aircraft artillery units of the army's naval forces and 122 small vessels, speed boats, marine, diving and missile divisions of the IRGC are attending the war games.
Several submarines are also participating in the military exercise. Golverdi said that informing the regional states of how the maneuver was held and presence of an observer delegation from Oman is a proof of Iran's goodwill towards regional states and can be regarded as a step towards further unity and solidarity among Persian Gulf states for establishment of security in this sensitive region.
He added that at the start of the war games, a salvo of six gun salutes were fired in honor of the Persian Gulf countries. (IRNA)
He expressed hope that with serious resolve of the Persian Gulf states, the desire of the Muslim nations of the region for joint cooperation among their states to safeguard security of the Persian Gulf and for withdrawal from the region of foreign military fleets would be materialized. The spokesman referred to acquaintance of Iranian and Omani army personnel with each other and with their operational capabilities as the best achievement of the war games.
He described optimal use of operational capabilities of the naval units of the army and of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in the tactical phase as another considerable achievement of the drill. He termed the tactical phase of the maneuver in which latest warfare tactics were employed as a suitable opportunity to assess the capabilities of the participating units. Golverdi added that the drill is aimed at upgrading the combat readiness of the participating forces through employment of modern equipment.
Vahdat-77 is part of the joint maneuvers held annually by the IRGC and the army's naval forces. The 5-day maneuvers, which started Friday, covers an area of 20,000 square miles from the Strait of Hormuz and Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman to the middle of the Persian Gulf. Some 40 warships, frigates and vessels, marine divisions, helicopters, missile divisions, anti-aircraft artillery units of the army's naval forces and 122 small vessels, speed boats, marine, diving and missile divisions of the IRGC are attending the war games.
Several submarines are also participating in the military exercise. Golverdi said that informing the regional states of how the maneuver was held and presence of an observer delegation from Oman is a proof of Iran's goodwill towards regional states and can be regarded as a step towards further unity and solidarity among Persian Gulf states for establishment of security in this sensitive region.
He added that at the start of the war games, a salvo of six gun salutes were fired in honor of the Persian Gulf countries. (IRNA)