Commander: Air Force Ready to Defend Iran’s Territorial Integrity

16 November 2014 | 20:48 Code : 1940879 Latest Headlines

(FNA)- Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shahsafi described Air Force superiority as a main component of Iran's high military power, and said that his forces are fully ready to defend the country's territorial integrity against any possible threat.

"Military might plays key role in thwarting the enemies' threats and the Iranian Air Force is fully prepared to confront the enemies' assaults," General Shahsafi said, addressing a group of Air Force commanders in Hamedan, Western Iran, on Sunday.

He reiterated that the enemies should not even think about attacking Iran.

In relevant remarks in February, General Shahsafi announced that his forces had focused all their power and energy on building fighter jets as they believe that future wars are fought and won in the sky.

"It is obvious that future wars will be in the sky with massive air and missile raids; therefore, the Air Force has adopted a new approach and focused all its internal power on building fighter jets in a self-driven, but organized way,” Shah Safi said, addressing foreign states’ military attachés in Iran.

He said that the Iranian Air Force’s efforts have already resulted in the building of Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets.

Yet, the Air Force commander reiterated the defensive doctrine of the Islamic Republic, saying Tehran had the narrowest military budget among the regional countries.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.

The country has repeatedly made it clear that its military might is merely based on the state's defense doctrine of deterrence and that it poses no threat to other countries.