Iran's defense minister has announced a new production line of highly accurate, long range cruise missiles capable of evading radar.

Gen. Ahmad Vahidi told state TV Sunday that the missile named Nasr 1 (Victory) will be capable of destroying targets up to 100 tons in size.

The missile is launched from the surface but will eventually be modified to be fired from helicopters and submarines, he said.

Iran frequently makes announcements about new advances in military technology that cannot be independently verified.

Iran began a military self-sufficiency program in 1992, under which it produces a large range of weapons, including tanks, medium range missiles, jet fighters and torpedoes.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Iran has built a new missile launch pad that could accommodate the firing of the Islamic Republic’s next-generation satellite launch vehicle (SLV) called Simorgh, which Israel fears is being developed to serve as an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach all of Europe.

Satellite footage taken by Jane’s with the DigitalGlobe and GeoEye satellites revealed that Iran has constructed a new launch site near the current Semnan space center. The imagery shows a new site four kilometers from Semnan with a 13-meter wide gantry tower approximately 20 meters tall. The site, Jane’s said, appeared to be midway toward completion.