Iran’s Defense Ministry and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force have teamed up to develop a new air defense system, Press TV reports.

The new system, called Herz-9, was unveiled on Monday in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

    “Iran is among a few leading world countries producing such an air defense system domestically. This mobile air defense system is more advanced and capable than our previous air defense models,” the minister said, adding that the battery “can be activated within a matter of minutes.”

Vahidi said the air defense system is able to detect and track targets at low altitudes and automatically hit them.

The Iranian minister said the new achievement has been made despite international sanctions against Iran’s military sector.

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    They want to sanction the military parts and ban the aviation industry from selling Iran planes,” he stated.

Vahidi noted that Iran has become self-sufficient in manufacturing airplanes.

“Sanctions make us stronger,” he said.

Over the past years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured other nations, especially its neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.