Iran Air Force To Stage Weeklong Drill

The Iranian air force will conduct a weeklong drill using fighter planes and drones in exercises that will include bombing targets at night, a senior commander said July 26.

The maneuvers are set to begin on July 31 in the western province of Hamadan, Gen. Mohammad Alavi, the deputy head of the air force, told Mehr news agency.

"Forty-three planes, including F-4, F-5, F-6, F-7 and Sukhoi 24s, will participate in the maneuvers, which will include bombing targets at night," Alavi said in a separate report carried by the Fars news agency.

"The maneuvers will also include mid-air refueling of aircraft," he said, adding that Iranian-made drones will be used in the exercises as well.

The Islamic republic's armed forces, including its elite Revolutionary Guards, regularly conduct such drills to showcase their abilities and often test-fire what they say are Iranian-built missiles.