TEHRAN- Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani has noted that Tehran intends to unveil a brand-new cutting-edge air defense system in the near future.

The minister said on Saturday that only Iranian military experts were involved in the design and production of the domestically produced military equipment.

General Ashtiani noted that the development of this technology is consistent with the Defense Ministry’s policy of surprising the adversary and developing several scenarios for potential future struggles.

According to the Iranian general, the Defense Ministry has recently been successful in designing and manufacturing a number of surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, including Bavar-373 (Belief-373), Khordad 15, Talaash (Endeavor), and Mersad (Ambush).

Ashtiani also stressed that integrating modern missile defense systems and boosting deterrent power would enable Iran diversify its air defense capabilities and increase the engagement capabilities of its armed forces.

A senior Iranian military official asserted in late August that the nation’s indigenously produced Tactical Sayyad (Hunter) air defense system could intercept several aircraft threats at a range of more than 100 kilometers.

The indigenous system was defined by Afshin Naderi-Sharif, Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister for research and industrial affairs, as a deployable medium-range ground-based system with unique advantages over its rivals.

In contrast to the Khordad-3 and Khordad-15 systems, according to Naderi-Sharif, the system is equipped with short-range self-protection capabilities.

He emphasized that the self-protection technology is installed in one of the air defense system’s missile turrets, rendering the weapon resistant to any low-altitude assaults.

Back in July, Ashtiani said that his ministry had taken the lead in employing the young elites.

He praised the Defense Ministry for having 400 innovation centers and 4,500 researchers, making it to rank first in the country.

“With such a huge capacity, a thousand projects are currently underway which only a small portion is reported to the media,” he added.

In June, Ashtiani said that the ministry’s exports of military equipment tripled in the past Persian calendar year, which ended on March 20.

Brigadier General Ashtiani noted that his ministry is working to improve military prowess by increasing the production of both military and civilian items and services, boosting the capability of missiles, drones, air defense, and electronic warfare, and pursuing defense diplomacy with a focus on export capacity building.

He also stressed that “due to the efforts of the Defense Ministry, we registered a threefold increase in exports, a twofold rise in the production of civilian goods and services, and an 81 percent increase in military production last year.”

“This path will continue with more strength and endeavor this Persian calendar year which is named ‘Inflation Control; Growth in Production’,” he continued.

Additionally, Ashtiani highlighted that the Defense Ministry is prepared to uphold the Islamic Republic’s technical, scientific, and military dominance under even the most difficult and challenging conditions imposed by the adversaries.

Ashtiani also said in May that Iran faced no limits in terms of exporting and importing military gear.

“We have no restrictions on providing equipment to countries and we are in contact with all countries and continue this relationship with authority. Any country that is committed to the interests, security and maintenance of international peace and thinks about common global security, we will definitely help it,” Ashtiani said.

Ashtiani pointed out that there are no restrictions on Iran purchasing military equipment. “No, it is not prohibited, wherever we need.  We do not feel any restrictions in providing the needs or exporting.”

The armed forces are now self-sufficient thanks to extraordinary advancements made in recent years by Iranian military specialists and engineers in the manufacture of a wide variety of indigenous equipment.

Iranian authorities have emphasized time and time again that Iran would never negotiate its defense capabilities and will never hesitate to increase its military capabilities, particularly its missile capacity, which is only intended for defense.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has frequently urged maintaining and enhancing Iran’s defense capabilities.