Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar ,speaking at ceremony to launch the production line for the missile system on Saturday, said the smart missile system named 'Shahin' have a range of more than 40 kilometers.

Mohammad-Najjar added that the system will promote Iran's defense capabilities against the possible air attacks.

Research and production phases of the defense system including missile, missile interceptors, hardware and software networks and its launchpad have been carried out by Iranian experts, he added.

Last month, Iran test-fired a new deterrent ballistic missile, the Sejjil II, with a 2000-kilometer surface-to-surface range.

The developments come as the country, which has been targeted by a series of sanctions over its anti-West stance, beefs up its defensive credentials amid increasing "Israeli" threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran also launched a production line for manufacturing autocannons to mount on warships.

"The final range of the 40-millimetre naval autocannon, named Fath (Victory), is 12 kilometers (more than seven miles) and it shoots 300 projectiles per minute," Mohammad-Najjar said.

"It can be used against cruise missiles ... It is an anti-aircraft low-altitude weapon which is mounted on warships," he said.