It would look like a set from a James Bond movie. And the setting is definitely reminiscent of the movie "Agent 007 - You only live twice", the fifth feature in the series featuring the spy created by Ian Fleming. The ones you see, however, are the absolutely authentic photos issued, at a rare moment, by the Iranian press agency Fars. Uniformed men inside a mountainous complex, launch vehicles and missiles ready to hit the enemy.
The secret base of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was built at 500 meters below a mountain range in Iranian territory and is home to Qadr and Shahab ballistic missiles. The underground structure shown on television is "only one of the many secret missile bases scattered throughout the country. Every US base in the Middle East is within the reach of Iranian missiles ". The revelation of the underground bases comes after the important agreement reached by Iran and the so-called P5 + 1 (United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France and Germany) on the nuclear program. Under the agreement, international sanctions against Iran will be abolished in exchange for restrictions that, at least in theory, should prevent the country from developing an atomic bomb.
Iranian projects: the missile launch submarine
The submarine called "Be'sat", currently in the planning phase, will be 60 meters long and will operate at an operating depth of 300 meters. Iran announced to the world its intention to build an 1300 tons submarine with missile capabilities last February.
Our engineers - say from the Iranian Army - are developing a boat equipped with six launchers capable of firing torpedoes and cruise missiles. The submarine will also have the ability to release mines.
The submarine - said the Iranian army commander, General Ataollah Salehi, presenting the project - it will be built in a very short time and the power of our military apparatus will increase exponentially.
Last December, Salehi praised the capabilities of the Iranian navy, stressing that the country could renew itself in the next decade with new submarines and surface ships.
Experience and the capacity acquired by Iran in building military equipment - then added Salehi - they have not been well received by the other nations of the world: we want peace and friendship.
... and the Iranian aircraft carrier
Should a war break out, Iran will direct its military power against American aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. This was stated in May last year by Admiral Ali Fadavi, commander of the Navy Revolutionary Guard Iranian.
Iran, no longer secret, has built a simple replica of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in a shipyard in the southern port of Bandar Abbas. Fadavi stated that the immense dimensions of the American aircraft carriers make them an easy target.
The destruction of American carriers - added Fadavi - they are a priority for the Republican Guard naval forces, as aircraft carriers are the symbol of US military power in the world. Admiral Fadavi then added that in an exercise carried out precisely against some fake "American ships", the Iranian armed forces destroyed the most dangerous ships in less than 50 seconds.
According to Republican Guard, to sink a Nimitz class aircraft carrier, 24 would need swarm-launching missiles (similar idea only conceptually to the far more deadly 'Kirov' attack technique with its twenty "SS-N-19 Shipwreck" armored missiles weighing seven tons to carrier).
The naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard, small boats armed with anti-ship missiles, are independent of the main Iranian Navy. They are deployed along the territorial waters of the Persian Gulf. It should be noted that it is one thing to launch missiles against a floating structure anchored to the seabed, and it is quite another to attack a 100 thousand-ton warship, with maneuvering ability at a speed of thirty knots, with sixty-five fighters on board and a naval battle group in its defense (v.articolo).
... or the supercaccia Qaher-313
The Qaher-313, was presented on the occasion of the celebrations commemorating the victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Qaher (Conqueror) 313 - as stated during the presentation - it is equipped with the latest technologies developed entirely in Iran. Its radar is able to track and engage multiple air and land targets in all-weather conditions. The aircraft can carry out various missions in a single sortie, with a capacity to internally transport its war load to reduce the radar signature. Our invisible fighter - said the Minister of Defense, General Ahmad Vahidi - it is able to follow the profile of the terrain by speeding at very high speed thanks to its more unique than rare profile. The Qaher - he added - it is a manifestation of Iran's ability to build state-of-the-art aircraft. The aircraft - then explained Vahidi - it has a very small cross section radar, hardly detectable by western radar, thanks to its very special aerodynamic profile. Its unique propulsion system gives the aircraft the ability to take off and land from short runways. The Qaher 313 - concluded the Minister of Defense - is able to compete on equal terms for features and performance with the most advanced fighters on the planet such as the F-22 or the F-35 (v.articolo).
