A handout picture shows the Iranian army's new missile defense system called "Falagh" on display at an undisclosed location. - AFP

TEHRAN: Iran
unveiled a new air defense system yesterday it says is capable of detecting
missiles and drones at a range of 400 km, ISNA news agency reported. The
"Falagh" is a locally overhauled version of the imported
"Gamma" surveillance radar, the semi-official news agency said, in an
apparent reference to a Russian-made system of that name. It had been
inoperable due to "sanctions, lack of spare parts and the inability of
foreign engineers to carry out repairs", it added.

The unveiling
comes at a time of rising tensions with the United States, which have escalated
ever since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal with
Iran and reimposed sanctions. Iran shot down a US Global Hawk drone with a
surface-to-air missile in June for allegedly violating its airspace, which the
United States denies.

"This radar
is capable of identifying and finding all types of cruise missiles, stealth
aircraft, drone systems and also ballistic missiles within a 400-kilometre
range," ISNA quoted army air defense force chief Brigadier General Alireza
Sabahi-Fard as saying during the unveiling ceremony.

The Falagh was
also capable of connecting to the Islamic republic's air defense network and
completing the coverage of the S-300 missile system it acquired from Russia,
the news agency said. 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. - AFP