posted February 14, 2001 10:18               

Officials said this is part of two major projects being pursued by the Islamic republic over the last month. The other project is the launching of production of the new military transport plane, Iran-140. The plane is being built with support from the Ukraine.

Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said the fast patrol boats will deploy indigenous missiles. The minister said the project stems from an increased military budget and a priority set by the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

"Domestic production of the equipment required by the armed forces, based on the Imam's self-reliant spirit, became an institutional fact in the armed forces," Shamkhani said.

In all, officials said, Iran is engaged in 110 military and defense projects. These include the production of a tank, tank carrier, armored personnel carrier and anti-tank launchers.