Herman Hum
11 May 05, 04:36
Tehran officially launches production of first Iranian-made submarine
CanadaEast (http://www.canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050510/CPW/33890023)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran officially launched production of the country's first Iranian-built submarine, a craft capable of operating stealthily, state-run television reported.
Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Imani was quoted as saying "the enemy would not be able to detect the submarine."
He did not elaborate.
One submarine has apparently already been built and was shown on television Tuesday, cruising at sea level. The Defence Ministry has commissioned an unspecified number of the craft, dubbed Ghadir in honour of a site in the Arabian peninsula that is holy to Shiite Muslims, the overwhelming majority of Iran's 69 million people.
The submarine, capable of operating in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, can launch both missiles and torpedoes at the same time, the television reported, without specifying the range of the projectiles.
In December, Iran announced the production of a line of stealth torpedoes that could be launched from helicopters, ships or submarines.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said the Islamic Republic will defend itself should the United States or Israel launch a strike against it. There have been suggestions either or both countries might launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, which Washington suspects may be aimed at building atomic weapons.
Iran already mass produces the Shahab-3 missile, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It also has, since 1992, produced its own brand of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.
CanadaEast (http://www.canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050510/CPW/33890023)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran officially launched production of the country's first Iranian-built submarine, a craft capable of operating stealthily, state-run television reported.
Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Imani was quoted as saying "the enemy would not be able to detect the submarine."
He did not elaborate.
One submarine has apparently already been built and was shown on television Tuesday, cruising at sea level. The Defence Ministry has commissioned an unspecified number of the craft, dubbed Ghadir in honour of a site in the Arabian peninsula that is holy to Shiite Muslims, the overwhelming majority of Iran's 69 million people.
The submarine, capable of operating in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, can launch both missiles and torpedoes at the same time, the television reported, without specifying the range of the projectiles.
In December, Iran announced the production of a line of stealth torpedoes that could be launched from helicopters, ships or submarines.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said the Islamic Republic will defend itself should the United States or Israel launch a strike against it. There have been suggestions either or both countries might launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, which Washington suspects may be aimed at building atomic weapons.
Iran already mass produces the Shahab-3 missile, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It also has, since 1992, produced its own brand of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.