Iran testing new air defense system during week of 'massive' military drills
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Iran's state TV says the military will test a new air defense system modeled after the U.S. Hawk system.
Monday's report says the surface-to-air system has been named "Mersad," or Ambush. The report says it's capable of locking a flying object at a distance of 50 miles and can hit it from 30 miles away, using Iranian-made missile Shahin, or Hawk.
The TV says Mersad will be tested during the military exercises that started last weekend. Billed as "massive," the week-long drill is also to include Iranian jet fighters, drones and about 8,000 troops and will cover nearly the entire eastern half of Iran.
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The drill is meant to upgrade Iranian capabilities amid escalating tensions with the West over Tehran's suspect nuclear program.