Iran Installs Home-made Radar in Mirage F1 Warplanes

Iran has installed locally-made radar and other equipment in Mirage F1 warplanes flown to the country by Iraqi pilots during the 1991 US invasion of Iraq.

“We have overcome the aircraft’s previous shortcomings in the area of radar surveillance capability with our radars,” Iran Air Force Deputy Commander Brigadier General Amir Vahedi was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency on Friday.

The jets have already been armed with Iranian-built weapon systems, making them capable of carrying various projectiles, including indigenous cruise missiles with up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) in range.

Tehran has some 20 French-origin Mirage F1 planes which Iraqi pilots flew during the opening days of the first Gulf war in 1991, and which were subsequently seized by Iran.