Iran’s armed forces have revealed two new smart bombs and a precision-guided missile today, and they can be used by drones for extended range targets.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami presented the two smart bombs, named the “Yasin” and the “Balaban,” and the missile, called the “Ghaem,” on Tuesday, according to Iran’s state-run media, the Islamic Republic News Agency.
The Balaban was reportedly shown to have folding wings that are designed to increase its range. It also combined a global positioning system (GPS) with another form of tracking software, called INS, to increase its accuracy and position the bomb quicker in flight.
Hatami described the Yasin bomb as a long-range smart bomb, adding that it can be fired from a range of 31 miles at its target from manned or unmanned aircraft.
The Ghaem was described as a heat-seeking missile equipped with heat and cylinder seekers, allowing it to hit within 1.6 feet of a target. Like the Balaban, it can be installed on various kinds of unmanned aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters.
Hatami said the missiles’ launch was “another significant achievement of power and dignity for the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Tehran Times reported.
“It shows that despite the viciousness and conspiracies of the Great Satan America and its mercenaries, the Defense Ministry will not hesitate for a moment to defend the Islamic Republic and to expand security,” he added.
The unveiling comes at a time of rising tensions between the United States and Iran, the latter of which has greatly desired to acquire or build a nuclear weapon.
Iran stated on Monday to European leaders that it would reduce its compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal, Reuters reported.
Iran said in about one month’s time it would block all energy exports in the Strait of Hormuz if European powers did not protect them against crippling sanctions by the United States.
One-fifth of all oil traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
“With the continuation of the inaction of the Europeans in carrying out their commitments (to the nuclear deal) … Iran will take a third step (in reducing commitments) in approximately one month,” said the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi.
The 2015 deal was designed to allow Iran to sell its oil in exchange for curbing its uranium enrichment program.
“What is certain is that by putting aside or suspending our commitments we will increase the speed of our nuclear activities,” said Kamalvandi.
Iran has stated it increased its stockpile of heavy water, which is used at its nuclear reactor in Arak, above 130 tonnes and increased its reserve of enriched uranium above 300 kilograms, both of which were the cap limits established in the 2015 deal.
On top of the additions of heavy water and enriched uranium, Iran stated it would raise its enrichment of uranium to 20 percent fissile purity, 16.33 percent above the 3.67 percent limit established in the agreement, but 70 percent below the 90 percent fissile purity needed to develop weapons-grade bomb material.
