Iran reveals self-produced destroyer as Israel launches UAV.
Israel and Iran are rolling out the new toys.
Iran’s first domestically built guided-missile destroyer was firing against imaginary air and land targets on Sunday while on a virgin patrol mission of the Gulf as over 1000 miles to the East Israel was formally unveiling a new fleet of some of the world’s largest and most advanced drones, capable of remaining airborne for more than 24 hours and flying from Israel to Iran.
The winter beef up of the two arch-enemies’ armies began on Friday as Iran’s 1,420 ton homemade Jamaran destroyer was launched by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at an undisclosed coastal location, most likely Bandar-Abbas, a port city and capital of Hormozgan Province on the southern coast of Iran.
Last year Iran sent six warships into international waters on Khamenei’s orders, marking the first time in modern history that the Islamic republic has projected its military might beyond its regional sphere of interest.
Over 300 feet long and replete with surface-to-air guided missiles, naval cannons, torpedoes, a helipad and advanced radar equipment, the destroyer is capable of engaging in surface, air, and underwater warfare. With a top speed of 30 knots, the Jamaran carries a crew of between 120 and 140.
In a series of public war games to show off the destroyer’s capabilities on Sunday, a helicopter operation was conducted, Iranian commandos rappelled down onto the Jamaran’s deck and the destroyer responded to a mock air strike from hostile fighter jets.
In comments carried by the official Islamic Republic News Agency, Iranian naval official Fariborz Qader-Panah said the Jamaran "is ready for any mission to protect national interest and protect the borders of the country."
While relatively small, Iran has depicted the launching of the Jamaran as a major leap for Iran’s military industry and places the country among a shortlist of 14 nations capable of designing and producing destroyers. Iran’s navy already has plans to produce an additional destroyer over the next two years.
"The Iranian arms industry is very active because of the sanctions," Dr Mustafa Alani, Director of Security and Defense Studies at the Gulf Research Center told The Media Line. "They are trying to reflect that they are able to produce their own arms and equipment. Every two or three months the Iranians announce a new missile, or plane or ship, so it’s become quite regular now."
"We think there is a bit of exaggeration," he said. "The problem is nobody can verify their claims, so it’s basically an open issue over the significance of these announcements."
Dr Theodore Karasik, Director for Research and Development at the Institute for Near East Gulf Military Analysis, downplayed the significance of the Jamaran’s launch.
"Basically the Iranians are producing a lot of equipment, such as rockets and destroyers, conducting military exercises, and so on," he told The Media Line. "This serves two purposes: the first is to show the rest of the world that they are capable of defending themselves or going on the offensive. The second is for domestic consumption: the Iranian government is saying we are standing up to the West and the rest of the world and we are frightening the West into not attacking us."
"But it’s for show," he said. "The Jamaram doesn’t have a lot of capabilities and it plays into the camp of those who read about a destroyer shooting off rockets ‘look at those Iranians, they are threatening us’. Smart people will know the difference."
The Israeli Air Force’s new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), dubbed ‘Eitan’, is 79 feet long, has a wingspan of 86-feet wingspan and was built by Israel Aerospace Industries. Outfitted with advanced imaging, radar and mapping equipment, the Eitan is one of the world’s most sophisticated UAVs and can reach an altitude of 43,000 feet. Weighing in at 4.5 tons, the turbo-prop powered Eitan can be loaded with multiple payloads weighing up to one ton.
"The Eitan marks a technological breakthrough and a new level in the air force’s ability to operate against threats, near and far, in its every day missions and during emergency," the Israeli army said in a statement.
"The launching of this air plane is another, substantial landmark in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles," Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, Commander of the Israeli Air Force, told reporters at Sunday’s inauguration ceremony. "From the humble beginning of their development, with initial operational results during the first Lebanon war, to the substantial and professional apparatus that now accompanies almost any air force operational frame work."
With the ability to fly higher and longer than most UAVs, the Eitan drones will give a significant boost to the ability of the Israeli Air Force to execute long-range, long endurance operations.
While Israeli military officials have not spoken directly about the potential combat use of the planes, it is known to have a range of at least 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), and officials have claimed that it can reach Iran.
"What’s important is to see this launch as part of the various activities Israel is preparing for potential long range operations in Iran or in the Persian Gulf," Amir Rappaport military analyst with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel’s Bar Ilan University told The Media Line.
Analysts say the drones will most likely be used for the airborne early warning detection of incoming missile attacks and the aerial refueling of other UAVs, potentially extending their flight time for weeks.
"The main feature of this aircraft is its long range and the time it can stay airborne," said Rappaport. "It can also carry a very large payload, including intelligence equipment, electronic warfare equipment or equipment enabling the drone to act as a communications transfer station for long range operations."
Israeli officials have not revealed how many aircraft are in the Eitan fleet, but it will be operated by the 210 Squadron at Tel Nof Air Force Base near Rehovot, Israel.
The facility is the primary operational and training center for Israeli paratroopers, and a number of foreign military analysts have alleged that some Israeli nuclear weapons storage bunkers are located in and around the base.
While Eitan was officially inaugurated on Sunday, the aircraft made its virgin flight in June 2006 and was used during Israel’s military offensive into the Gaza Strip that ended in January last year.
Dr Karasik said it was not clear whether the Iranian and Israeli announcements were connected.
"You could argue that the timing was connected," he said. "On the other hand both countries have been moving forward trying to produce weapon systems, missiles and UAVs because they are trying to beef themselves up both strategically and tactically for a potential conflict with each other."
"Either way there is no doubt that Israel is far beyond the Iranians in terms of their capabilities," Dr Karasik said. "The Israeli military is extremely advanced in technology, while the Iranians suffer from a lack of technology and have to work on trying to catch up with the rest of the world’s militaries."
Israel, the U.S. and other Western powers believe Iran is developing a clandestine nuclear weapons program, a charge Iran vehemently denies.
Regardless of Iran’s intentions, the Islamic republic seems to have mastered at least two of the three steps needed to effectively launch a nuclear weapon. The first step is developing a medium-range rocket capable of striking Israel and Arab nations allied with the West. The second step is to acquire highly enriched, weapons grade uranium, a process Iran has already begun at its Natanz nuclear facility. Iran’s progress on the final step, developing a warhead capable of being attached to the missile, remains unclear. Western governments believe Iran halted its warhead research program in 2003, but there is little consensus among intelligence agencies on the issue.
Gulf states, fearing the encroachment of Iranian power throughout the region, have urged Iran’s leadership to comply with international demands regarding the development of its nuclear program.
Israel, most directly threatened by a potential Iranian nuclear program, has been vociferous in calling for limiting negotiations with Iran and has refused to rule out taking military action against the country.
Iran maintains that as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it is entitled to develop a civilian nuclear program and has warned it will launch a crushing response should it be attacked by Israel.
While Israel has a policy of neither confirming nor denying its possession of a nuclear arsenal, it is widely believed that the country has over 200 ready-to-launch nuclear warheads.
The U.S. has put mild but increasing pressure on Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a request the Jewish state has so far refused.