Iran Simulates Air Defence Against Major Attack on Key Nuclear Facility Under ‘Eqtedar 1403’ Exercises

<p >The Iranian Armed Forces have demonstrated their air defence capabilities in the Eqtedar 1403 exercises in Isfahan province, which were designed to simulate kinetic and electronic attacks on the country to test defence network’s responsiveness to real threats. The commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps General Hossein Salami has stressed that the scenarios of the exercise were highly realistic, and that Iranian forces had significantly improved their ability to manage air threats due largely to major technological advances in the air defence network. The primary target of the simulated attacks was the Natanz nuclear material enrichment facility, with the exercises taking place at a time when Israel is reported to be considering launching attacks on key Iranian nuclear facilities. Following major Israeli successes both in removing the population of northern Gaza, and in working with Turkey to <a href=" target="_blank" >overthrow</a> the government of Syria, momentum has built to pursue further offensives. The Natanz nuclear facility has been fortified by North Korean experts with reinforced concrete ceilings, doors and walls intended to withstand strikes from penetrative munitions. Hundreds of North Korean scientists and engineers are reported to have aided in work on the facility. The facility was previously attacked during the first term of the Barack Obama administration, when Stuxnet malware was inserted to compromise its industrial control systems, although operations were restored more quickly than had been anticipated.</p><p ><img src=" title="Missile Battery From 3rd of Khordad System – artwork"></p><p >The Eqtedar 1403 exercises featured simulations where air defence units intercepted drone and cruise missile attacks, with complementary air defence assets forming a network to effectively neutralise all projectiles. Commander of the Khatam Al Anbia Air Defence Base General Qader Rahimzadeh supervised the first phase of the exercise, which involved testing defences against low altitude attacks supported by enemy electronic attacks. This phase aimed to evaluate the resilience of air defence systems to disruptions by electronic warfare and other means. Exercises involved the use of both indigenous and Russian-supplied systems, including the Iranian Dezful and its Russian counterpart the Tor-M1 designed to intercept drones and cruise missiles at short ranges, and the Iranian Dey-9 system built to intercept faster attacks. The 3rd of Khordad system was also deployed, and provides a medium range defence capability comparable to that of the Russian BuK-M2. The system was previously combat tested on June 20, 2019, to shoot down a U.S. Air Force RQ-4A surveillance drone operating in “full stealth mode” in or near Iranian airspace. The exercises also saw Iran unveil the Tondar mobile short range surface to air missile system designed to intercept drones and cruise missiles.</p>