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Tehran Unveils New Missile Defense System

Part of Tehran’s new air defense system “Falaq” unveiled by Iran on Saturday, August 10, 2019. (AFP)
Part of Tehran’s new air defense system “Falaq” unveiled by Iran on Saturday, August 10, 2019. (AFP)
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Tehran Unveils New Missile Defense System

Part of Tehran’s new air defense system “Falaq” unveiled by Iran on Saturday, August 10, 2019. (AFP)
Part of Tehran’s new air defense system “Falaq” unveiled by Iran on Saturday, August 10, 2019. (AFP)

Iran unveiled on Saturday a locally upgraded radar system with a range of 400 km that could help defend against cruise and ballistic missiles and drones.

The "Falaq" defense system is a locally overhauled version of the imported “Gamma” surveillance radar, the semi-official ISNA news agency said, in an apparent reference to a Russian-made system, which wasn’t used by Iran due to sanctions imposed, lack of spare parts and the inability of foreign engineers to carry out repairs.

The agency didn’t mention where the new system was unveiled while Iranian TV showed footage of the Falaq system.

Western military analysts said Iran usually exaggerates its weapons capabilities, but concerns about its ballistic missile program have contributed to Washington’s withdrawal in 2018 from the 2015 deal with world powers.

The deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for easing economic sanctions imposed on it.

“This system has high capabilities and can detect all types of cruise and ballistic missiles and drones,” Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, commander of the regular army’s air defenses, was quoted as saying by semi-official news agency Mehr.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, where the United States has in recent months stepped up pressure on Iran.

US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Tehran again after pulling out of the nuclear deal, which its other signatories are struggling to maintain as Washington also lobbies to establish a maritime security coalition to safeguard shipping in the Gulf in a related standoff with Iran over oil supplies.

Iran shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June. Tehran says the drone was over its territory, but Washington says it was in international airspace.

Iran installed the S-300 system in March 2016 following several years of delay after a nuclear agreement reached with world powers allowed the lifting of international sanctions.

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Japan and China Accuse Each Other of Violating Airspace Around Disputed East China Sea Islands

FILE - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane flies over the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, on Oct. 13, 2011. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
FILE - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane flies over the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, on Oct. 13, 2011. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
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Japan and China Accuse Each Other of Violating Airspace Around Disputed East China Sea Islands

FILE - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane flies over the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, on Oct. 13, 2011. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
FILE - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane flies over the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, on Oct. 13, 2011. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

Japan and China are accusing each other of violating the airspace around the Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands that Beijing also claims.
Japan´s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that it has protested to Beijing after a Chinese helicopter that took off from one of China´s four coast guard boats had entered Japan´s territorial waters around the Senkaku island, violating the Japanese airspace around them for about 15 minutes on Saturday.
In response to the airspace intrusion, Japan´s Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets, the Defense Ministry said.
China routinely sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into waters and airspace surrounding the islands, which China calls the Diaoyu, to harass Japanese vessels in the area and force Japan to scramble jets in response, The Associated Press said.
The latest territorial flap comes as Japan and China were appearing to have warm ties as both countries seek to mitigate damages from the US tariff war.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said it lodged a "very severe protest" through the Chinese embassy in Japan, claiming that China Coast Guard actions infringed Japan´s sovereignty and urging the Chinese government to ensure preventive measures.
China also said in a statement that it took a similar step and protested to Japan over a Japanese civilian aircraft violating its airspace around the islands, saying it was "strongly dissatisfied" about Japanese violation of China´s sovereignty.
Japanese officials are investigating a possible connection between the Chinese coast guard helicopter´s airspace intrusion and the small Japanese civilian aircraft flying in the area around the same time.
Saturday´s intrusion was the first by China since a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft violated the Japanese airspace off the southern prefecture of Nagasaki. Chinese aircraft have also violated the Japanese airspace around the Senkaku twice in the past.