Iran unveils new underground 'missile city', displays ballistic and cruise missiles

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a new underground 'missile city', or missile base. Ballistic and cruise missiles were displayed there, along with the equipment to launch them.

Iran showed this military capability amid rising military tension with the United States and Israel. A video of the inauguration ceremony of the new military facility was released on Tuesday (10 November).

For several weeks, Iranian leaders had been hinting that Tehran would unveil a weapon that would surprise the world. The unveiling of the new 'missile city' is being seen as part of that message.

The video shows various types of ballistic and cruise missiles and their launch vehicles, or launchers. At the inauguration, Iran's armed forces chief of staff Major General Ali Abdollahi and IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brigadier General Majid Mousavi toured different parts of the underground facility. They reviewed the readiness and operational capability of the missile units and launchers.

Iran's armed forces chief General Ali Abdollahi warned: 'These advanced missiles, stored and produced deep underground, will surprise the enemy on the battlefield and prove our capability.'

Earlier, on 7 November, IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi had announced that, as part of a week-long programme, the Aerospace Force would unveil several military capabilities including a new underground missile city. Tuesday's event is being seen as a continuation of that announcement.

Mohebbi said: 'The IRGC Aerospace Force has rapidly moved its missile and drone production system from surface facilities to underground facilities. Special infrastructure has been built deep underground not only to store weapons but also to produce missiles.'

According to Mohebbi, because of Iran's own technological skill, vast territory and production infrastructure, it will be possible to continue weapons production even amid intense bombing. At a press conference he detailed 10 major military achievements of the Aerospace Force.

According to his claim, the indigenously built 'Shahid-136' drone is being mass-produced at industrial level. Alongside it, the 'Arman' missile, the '358' drone and the 'Third Khordad' air defence system are being exported abroad.

According to Mohebbi, a world-class technology framework of Iran's own style has been built without depending on any foreign equipment, imported parts or 'reverse engineering' of weapons seized from the enemy.

According to Mohebbi, during the recent tensions against the United States and Israel, the IRGC Aerospace Force alone destroyed and repelled at least 260 enemy aircraft. He claimed these included F-35, F-16, F-5 and F-18 fighter jets and drones such as the MQ-1, RQ-4, Orbiter and Lucas.

According to him, radar cross-section (RCS) has been dramatically reduced and stealth technology added to missiles and drones, so, he claimed, these weapons can render multilayered air defence systems such as the US 'THAAD' and 'Patriot' ineffective and hit designated targets.