TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is scheduled to begin five days of nationwide air defense war games later this week, state television reported Sunday.
The semiofficial Mehr news agency, meanwhile, said in a separate report that Iran was expected during the war games to unveil a locally made radar system with a range of some 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers).
The agency gave no details on the new radar system.
Iran's armed forces conduct several war games every year and frequently unveil new weapons and military systems during those exercises. Often, the capacity and effectiveness of these locally manufactured weapons and systems could not be independently verified.
Iran's air defense exercises have in the past been linked to the country's preparations to deal with a possible air strike targeting its nuclear facilities. The West says Iran's nuclear program aims at making an atomic bomb. Iran denies the charge.
The latest air defense war games will begin Tuesday.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.