Tehran, Dec 20

Iranian air force will start military drills over the Persian Gulf Friday, Xinhua reported Thursday.

Deputy Commander of Iran's air force Brigadier General Alireza Barkhor told reporters that units from all air force bases are taking part in the drill, said Press TV.

The two-day exercise, codenamed Fadaian-e Harim-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Sanctuary 4), is part of annual exercises aimed at testing indigenous air defence systems, improving the units' combat readiness and displaying the country's military might and achievements, Barkhor said.

Air-to-air combat and targeting flying objects form the " technical core" of the drill in which different types of fighters, transport aircraft and reconnaissance planes will partake, he said.