Iranian navy to dispatch squadron to Atlantic

TEHRAN, July 18 (UPI) -- Broadening its cruising ranges, the Iranian navy has announced that it will be sending a naval detachment into the Atlantic.

The squadron will undoubtedly come under intense surveillance not only by U.S. naval forces but NATO as well and the ships' missile armaments will be of prime interest.

"Being present in the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, southern Indian Ocean, and open waters is still on the navy's agenda," navy commander Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said. "If the plan is finalized, (a) naval squadron will be dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean."

The comments were reported Monday by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency.

"Every naval unit has its own equipment in accordance with its mission and assignment. The Nur surface-to-surface missile is among the equipment installed on the vessels that carry out long-range missions," Sayyari said.

Development of the Nur -- "Light" in Farsi -- maritime surface-to-surface cruise missile began in November 2002 when Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization announced a joint venture with China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. to develop a common anti-ship missile.

Within a year, Iran announced that it had developed both a naval and ground version of the Nur. Production began of the Nur began in 2005.

At the time Western intelligence sources maintained that Iran obtained technology for its Nur cruise missile program from China and Russia, stating on background that China was instrumental in establishing Iran's cruise missile program while Russia also provided assistance.

The Nur is based on China's long-range "Silkworm"C-802 anti-ship cruise missile and has a 125-mile range and 365-pound warhead. The Nur is powered by Toloue-4, an Iranian version of the French Microturbo TRI 60 engine and Western intelligence reports that the Nur is operational at maximum range without the need for over-the-horizon targeting systems.

In April of last year Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired five missiles as part of ongoing war games in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran's state media said. The demonstrations included a shore-based launch of a Nur missile fired from the Hormuz area of southern Iran.

In January the Nura anti-ship cruise missile systems were introduced into the Iranian navy.

"The systems are capable of spotting and destroying different targets at sea," Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said during a ceremony. "We can meet all our needs in the air defense sector by relying on domestic resources. When we develop weapons, they will be mass produced and we can export the surplus to other countries if deemed appropriate."