Iran says it has increased the range of its warplanes, allowing them to fly as far as Israel and back without refueling. Iranian state TV quoted
on Sunday its Air Force chief General Ahmad Mighani as saying Iranian warplanes can now fly 3,000 kilometers without refueling.
Israel is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Iran. Such a range could be achieved by using external fuel tanks attached to the wings or fuselage that can be released when empty. While Sunday's report did not refer to Israel by name, Mighani's remarks come after an Israeli air exercise in June that US officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran last month tested nine medium and long-range missiles it claimed were updated versions of its Shihab-3, capable of striking Israel. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had tested a naval weapon that could destroy any vessel in a range of 300 km
Also last week, Haaretz reported that the American administration had rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
The report was denied by an Israeli official, who said that U.S.-Israeli arms deals were conducted without consideration of the Iranian threat.08/17/08
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