TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran Army unveiled its first underground air force base, called “Oqab 44” (Eagle 44), which is capable of accepting and operating various types of fighter jets and bombers as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Air Force.
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri and Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief commander of the Iranian Army, visited the underground base on Tuesday.
The large underground base will also have the ability to receive and operationally use the new fighters of the Air Force.
This is the first underground air base of the Iranian Army which is being publicized. No more information has been made available about other underground bases of the Army.
The Iranian Armed Forces have constructed underground bases over the recent decades. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has built the first ever underground base or city to protect its missile units.
Meanwhile Baqeri highlighted the country’s self-reliance in manufacturing defense products, saying the homegrown Iranian military products have found many clients in the world.
General Baqeri made the remarks during a ceremony at Imam Khomeini’s holy shrine, where military commanders and officials renewed their allegiance to the ideals of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini.
“Today, the Islamic Republic’s defense power and deterrence capability are so fertile that we produce more than 90 percent of our needed products, and that our defense equipment has found many requesters,” he said.
The top general also hailed the armed forces’ readiness to counter threats posed by the enemy.
“Our defense deterrence does not allow the emergence of threats. But if there is a one percent chance of threat, our armed forces … stand fully vigilant with all their facilities,” he said.
“In the hybrid war with the enemy, the armed forces will stand by the officials and people with all their strength and will not allow the enemy to succeed.”
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has developed an independent defense industry.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made substantial headway in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sector.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities which are entirely meant for defense.
General Baqeri also referred to the rising power of the Resistance Front against Israel, saying the occupying regime only makes verbal threats.
“Today, the Zionist regime only makes verbal threats, but it knows that it does not have the power to carry them out as it is surrounded by the member countries of the Resistance Axis,” he added.
