Iran Celebrates 42nd Islamic Revolution Anniv, Displays Missile System Used in Downing US Drone

By Staff, Agencies

The Iranian people from all walks of life marked the 42^nd anniversary of victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution on Wednesday.

The rallies on the national holiday of “Bahman 22^nd” began at 10 am local time across Iran on Wednesday.

This year’s demonstrations have been held symbolically with motorists attending parades, considering the coronavirus health restrictions.

People of different strata attended the demonstrations with motorcycles and automobiles, waving flags of Iran and banners in support of the Islamic Republic to mark the revolution’s anniversary.

In capital Tehran, motorists took different routes to reach the Azadi [Liberty] Square, where President Hassan Rouhani delivered a speech via videoconference.

The Iranian nation toppled the US-backed Pahlavi regime 41 years ago, on February 11, 1979, ending 2,500 years of monarchic rule in the country.

Relatedly, Iranian air defense missile system “Khordad-3rd” that had shot down a sophisticated US spy drone over the Gulf back in June 2019 was put on display in Tehran during demonstrations marking the 42^nd anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution.

As rallies were held in Tehran on Wednesday with motorists attending parades to celebrate the Revolution victory anniversary, organizers exhibited the Khordad-3rd missile system.

Missiles fired by the homegrown air defense system had brought down a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone over the Gulf in June 2019.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] Aerospace Forces fired one surface-to-air missile at the intruding US aircraft after its stealth maneuvering in Iran’s airspace.

Khordad-3rd employs a phased array radar and can launch 8 missiles by tracking 4 targets simultaneously.

The new version of the air defense system is paired with Sayyad-2 missiles, which can hit targets within a range of 75 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 30 km.