Iran plans to produce fighter jets, submarines

Iran's defense minister said Tuesday that the country's Defense Ministry plans to produce a variety of fighter jets, missiles, drones, submarines and military vehicles by the end of the Iranian calendar year (started March 20, 2012), Press TV reported. "Producing new drones has been put on our agenda, and we are also trying to employ new submarines," Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi was quoted as saying. Vahidi said the Defense Ministry also plans to produce a new generation of flying boats with high combat capabilities as well as a new generation of ballistic and cruise missiles and military vehicles, according to the report. In a ceremony on the occasion of the national Defense Industry Day in Iran on Tuesday, six new defense achievements were unveiled. The achievements include an enhanced version of fourth generation Fateh (Victory) 1D-110 missile, Armita flying laboratory, Bonyan 4 (Foundation) marine engine, Aras tactical vehicle, Vafa (Loyalty) mortar launcher, as well as Shahed tapping and positioning system, said the report.