Iran has just revealed to the world what it claims is a vast network of underground bases where airplanes, anti-missile systems, and other weapons can securely be stored, and brought up quickly onto the surface as needed in case of war. It has shown off what it describes as only one of its underground airbases, where it plans to keep the two-dozen Su-35 fighter jets that Russia has promised to send – by mid-summer – to its loyal ally. The airbase is huge, big enough to keep all 24 planes parked at one time, both wide and tall enough so that they can maneuver all around the base without running into each other. The Iranians have also revealed one example of what it claims, again, are a network of tunnels built deep underground, where it has been keeping its Khordad air defense system. The footage Iran released shows the Khordad air defense system being driven out of a tunnel to the surface, ready to shoot down incoming missiles. More on this sudden release of information about Iran’s underground bases can be found here: “Iran shows off underground tunnels for air defenses – analysis,” by Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 28, 2023:
Iran has shown off what it claims are underground tunnels used for air defense systems. The report in Iran’s Tasnim News comes amid tensions in the region and Iran’s increased enrichment of uranium. Iran showed off the tunnels during air defense drills this week [the last week in February]. The drills are called “Guardians of Velayat Sky-1401.”
The footage was released by Iran showing a 3rd-generation Khordad air defense system apparently being driven out of a tunnel. This is an advanced air defense system Iran used to shoot down a US Global Hawk drone in 2020. Iran has also sought to send systems like this to Syria. According to the report the air defense system was operated by the IRGC’s Aerospace unit.
The systems are kept in “subterranean tunnels” and can be easily moved out to ground level “when needed.” Apparently, Iran thinks these underground bases will be enough to prevent airplanes, anti-missile systems, and other weapons from being subjected to airstrikes or other attacks in the case of a conflict.
What Iran does not reveal is how deep underground these “subterranean tunnels” have been built. Is it to a depth of 50 feet, or 250 feet? It makes a great difference to whether these tunnels can withstand the bunker buster bombs that are presently in the Israeli armory, or those that may soon be, if the Americans finally agree to provide Israel with their biggest Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the 30,000 GPU-57 bomb. The Iranians can only hazard a guess about three things:
1) At what depth could the GPU-57 bomb destroy an underground airbase or tunnel?
2) How likely is it that Israel will soon have acquired these bombs — and how many — from their American ally?
3) If it does obtain those GPU-57 bunker busters from the U.S., will Israel keep that a secret, in order to lure Iran into a trap, leading Tehran to start a war with Israel because, Tehran thinks, wrongly, that those underground bases and tunnels are impregnable?
Iran has been showing off a number of underground bases in the last years, including bases for munitions, drones and air force units. A certain “tactical airbase can accommodate and prepare various aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles, for missions.”
This is Iran bragging about having an air force even though Iran’s air force is not very large and consists of older planes. Iran has been seeking to import new aircraft from Russia….
Iran has an aging air force consisting largely of American planes left over from the Shah’s era; many of those planes have been cannibalized to supply parts for the few planes still running.
But Iran has now been promised two dozen Su-35s, Russia’s top-of-the-line, to be delivered by mid-year.
In essence, Iran is showcasing these capabilities to create deterrence. This is sort of like the scene in Dr. Strangelove when the characters discuss the “doomsday machine” where Russia would be able to respond even if it was attacked. Iran says it has “missile cities” and its navy, air force, IRGC and other units operate various systems underground. Iran even stores anti-ship cruise missiles underground.
The construction of underground cities was not limited to missile units, and with the development of drone power in the army and IRGC, the underground drone cities of both forces were also unveiled,” the report says. Ostensibly these underground facilities are in many places in Iran, providing it many options to threaten its neighbors and others.
Iran apparently believes that its underground airbases, and its vast tunnel networks where anti-missile systems, drones, and other weapons are stored, will be safe from Israeli attack, and will assure the Iranians of a “second-strike” capability should Israel attack first. But that assumes that Israel will not by then have received the 30,000 pound GPU-57, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, from the Americans – the bunker buster believed capable of destroying those underground airbases and tunnels. Iran has no way of knowing if Washington will continue to withhold from Israel, or decide to supply it with, that largest bunker buster. And it may find out only when Israel actually uses such MOPs – or fails to — against Iran.
Iran wants its enemies to believe that even if it is subjected to air strikes that it will be able to massively respond after an initial attack by Israel, by rolling out its advanced Su-35 airplanes, Khordad anti-missile systems, drones, and other weapons that will have avoided attack by remaining in its vast network of bases and tunnels built deep underground. It’s betting that the Americans will not supply Israel with the GPU-57 bunker buster, in order to discourage an Israeli attack. But the Bidenites have finally come round – it’s been a long time coming — to Israel’s view that Iran’s nuclear program can only be stopped not by renewing those interminable negotiations in Vienna that led nowhere, but by the application of military power. While it is destroying the planes, missiles, and drones — all part of Iran’s conventional weaponry –Israel can also attack centrifuges, and stockpiles of uranium enriched to 90% weapons grade. The Bidenites prefer to let Israel do the heavy lifting – taking on Iran militarily by itself – but they also need to ensure the Jewish state’s success, by providing those 30,000 pound GPU-57 bunker busters that can reach Iranian targets deep underground. Even the Bidenites understand that were Iran able to withstand an Israeli attack, that would be catastrophic for Israel, for the Sunni Arab states of the Gulf, and for the United States itself, which for Iran, we should remember, remains the Great Satan.
Walter Sieruk says
That villainous tyrant Rasis with his underground tunnels which contain weapons he schemes for his sinister Islamic agenda is a reminder of the old Fu Manchu movies in which that arch -villain had his stooges construct tunnels which contain weapons that Fu Manchu had schemed for his sinister goals.
Back when that movie created the technology wasn’t as nearly a advanced is it now is. So back then such a fictional movie with a fictional villain was entertaining to watch.
In contrast , with the advanced technology of the twenty -first century as a real arch-villain, Rasis, in power in Iran ,such a news report , as in this jihadwatch article ,is not ,at all, entertaining to read.
Walter Sieruk says
Those demonically ambitious and sinister jihads –minded Muslims who have all the power in that hostile and menacing Islamic regime of Iran will continue in the unreasoning Islamic quest in the manufacture and construction of nuclear weapons, to place in launching bins and even stored in underground tunnels
That fiendish President of Iran ,Raisi in power in that tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran is very will to inflects mass murder.
It’s now a rather appropriate time to bring out the fact that if the founder of the current Islamic tyranny If Ayatollah Khomeini would still be alive today ,he would spit those who say that “Islam is a non-violent religion”
For Ayatollah Khomeini had clearly announced that “Those who know nothing about Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war….There are hundreds psalms and hadiths urging of Muslims to value war and to fight. …I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim.” [1]
There are also many places in the Qu ‘ran that instruct in violence and killing for the cause of Islam.
As found in ,for example Surah 2:191. 4:89.. 5:33. 9:5, 111,112 ,123. 47:4.
[1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 339.
JimJFox says
Unconvincing. Pathetic, actually. When Iran tests a nuke it will be time to act militarily. Until then it’s just bluster.