Iran test-fires newest anti-ship missile during Indian Ocean drills (VIDEO)

The Iranian military has tested a new homebuilt anti-ship cruise missile, successfully hitting a naval target during drills in the Indian Ocean. The new munitions are said to boast a range of at least 280km.

The large-scale drills, dubbed 'Ramadan Martyrs,' were held in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and in the Sea of Oman. Footage of the exercise, released by state media on Thursday, shows multiple cruise missiles launched from ground-based and ship-borne launchers.

The imagery also shows a missile scoring a solid hit on a floating dummy target. The targets are said to have been around 280km from the launchers.

The munitions used during the drills have been described by Iranian military officials as "next-generation" weapons. The successful test is a "sign of significant progress in increasing cohesion between the armed forces and defense industry," Iran's Army Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has said, calling the missiles a "promising step in enhancing defense and deterrence power."

An Iranian locally made cruise missile is fired during war games in the northern Indian Ocean on June 17, 2020. © Reuters / WANA

The test comes a month after a deadly incident during Iranian naval drills, which left more than two dozen sailors dead and injured. Early in May, an Iranian military vessel accidentally hit the logistics and support ship 'Konarak' with a cruise missile after it set up a floating target. While the support vessel was effectively obliterated in the blast, it did not sink and the charred husk of the ship was towed to port.

Iran has been actively developing and testing various missiles over the past few years, including cruise, ballistic and anti-aircraft systems. Tehran has reiterated that the homegrown technology serves only defensive purposes and is crucial for maintaining the country's sovereignty.

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