TEHRAN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran started the second stage of large-scale joint aerial defense maneuver on Monday to prepare itself for any potential attack against the country, the official IRNA news agency reported.

TV grab released by Press TV on Sunday shows Iran's aerial defense maneuver. Iran started a five-day large-scale joint aerial defense maneuver Nov. 23, 2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The five-day exercises dubbed "Asemane Velayat 2" started on Sunday at the scale of 600,000 square km of central, western and southern parts of Iran in which both the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Iran's regular armed forces have participated.

    The Commander of Iran's Khatamol-Anbia anti-aircraft unit Brigadier General Gholamhossein Molaei said Monday that the Iranian forces have displayed their ability to swiftly react to any jamming and electronic warfare in the second stage of the war games, according to IRNA.

    The spokesman of the maneuver, Brigadier General Ali Moqiseh, also said that in this stage air defense units countered the enemy's reconnaissance missions, local satellite channel Press TV said in another report on Monday.

    "Iran's military industry is now capable of meeting all of the country's defensive needs in terms of air defense and missile systems," Moqiseh was quoted as saying.

    The maneuver has three stages including preparation of military units, reconnaissance flights and dog fights, IRNA said.

    Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, head of the air-defense headquarters of Iran's armed forces, said Saturday that the maneuver is aimed at developing the country's aerial defense against any potential attacks -- especially on the country's nuclear facilities. 

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