Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defence Force قرارگاه پدافند هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران | |
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Active | 2008 - present |
Country | Iran |
Branch | Air Defense |
Commanders | |
Commander | Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili |
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defence Force (Persian: قرارگاه پدافند هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) also known as Khatam al-Anbia Air Defence Base (Persian: قرارگاه پدافند هوايی خاتم الانبياء) is a branch split from IRIAF in 2008 and has more than 18,000 military personnel. It controls all of Iran's military land-based air defense. It is currently commanded by Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili.
History
As of 1996 Iranian Air Defence forces included about 18,000 military personnel. The tradition of aircraft-based air defense, derived from the US-trained Air Force from before the 1978-79 revolution, was giving way to an expanding arsenal of ground-based air defense missile systems. Still, Iran was at the time unable to construct a nationwide, integrated air defense network, and continued to rely on point defense of key locations with surface-to-air missile batteries.
The bulk of Iran's Air Force Air Defence holdings by the mid-1990s revolved around 30 Improved HAWK fire units (12 battalions/150+ launchers), 45-60 SA-2 and HQ-2J/23 (CSA-1 Chinese equivalents of the SA-2) launchers. Also available were some 30 Rapier and 15 Tigercat SAM launchers. There are reports of the transfer of SA-6 launchers to Iran from Russia in 1995/1996.In 1997 the Iranian Air Defense forces declared the Almaz S-200 Angara (SA-5 'Gammon') low-to high-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) operational.
In December 2005 Iran entered into a contract to purchase 29 TOR-M1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) mobile surface-to-air missile defense systems from Russia worth more than US$700 million (EUR 600 million).
Between 1998 and 2002 Iran imported approximately 6 JY-14 surveillance radars from the China National Electronics Import-Export Corporation. The radar can detect targets up to 300 km away and is now part of Iran's air defense system.[1]
On 1 September 2008 it was reported that Russia may proceed with plans to sell advanced S-300 air defence systems to Iran under a secret contract believed to have been signed in 2005. On 22 September 2010 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree banning the sale of the S-300 and other military equipment to Iran.[2] The sale was canceled because of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 sanctions on Iran. On 10 November 2010 Iran announced that it had developed a version of the S-300 missile.
Iranian land forces have a total of some 1,700 anti-aircraft guns including 14.5mm ZPU-2/-4, 23mm ZSU-23-4, 23mm ZU-23s, 37mm type 55s, 57mm ZSU-57-2 and 100mm KS-19s.Iran also had 100-180 Bofors L/70 40mm guns and modest numbers of Skygaurd 35mm twin anti-aircraft guns.It largest holding consisted of ZU-23s(which it can manufacture).[3]
Recently Iran has built several new anti-aircraft guns including Samavat 35mm Anti-Aircraft Guns, Sa'ir 100mm Anti-Aircraft Guns (Upgraded automatic version of KS-19) and the Mesbah 1 air defense system.[4][5][6][7]
On 21 August 2012 the Iranian military started construction of its largest air defense base in the city of Abadeh in the Southern Fars province. The air defense base is due to be built at the cost of $300 million and will have 6,000 personnel available for a large array of duties, including educational ones.[8] Days later, the defense ministry also announced plans to develop Bavar 373, a new long-range air-defense system, by March 21, 2013.[9]
Equipment
Air-defence artillery systems
Model | Type | Quantity | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
ZPU-4 | Anti-air artillery | + | ||
ZU-23 | Anti-air artillery | + | ||
Oerlikon 35 mm/Samavat | Anti-air artillery | 92+ | ||
KS-19/Sa'ir 100mm Anti-Aircraft Guns | Anti-air artillery | + | ||
Mesbah 1 | Close-in weapon system | + | ||
ZSU-23-4 | Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon | 100+ |
Air-defence missile systems
Model | Type | Quantity | Acquired | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
MIM-23 Hawk | Surface-to-air missile | 150 | 1970s-present | Locally manufactured improved version of the original 1960s US Hawk system. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force had recently revealed its own version of the MIM-23 Hawk the Shahin which is under production. In 2010 Iran announced that it will be mass-producing its next generation of air defense system called Mersad which would integrate with the Shahin missile.[10] |
SM-1 | Surface-to-air missile | + | Locally manufactured copy of a c.1970s variant | |
Shahab Saqeb | Surface-to-air missile | + | 2002–present | copy of the Chinese HQ-7 (FM-90) system. This Project was First Joint Winner-Applied Research in 14th Khwarizmi International Award- 2001;Tehran-Iran -The Project Title:Production of Low Range Ground to Air Missile;Shahab Saqeb - Initiator:Iran Aerospace Ind. Org.& Contributor:D.I.O)[11] |
SA-2 Dvina/Sayyad-1 | Surface-to-air missile | 45 | Up to 45 Launchers, HQ-2J and indigenous-produced Sayyad-1. Upgraded copy of HQ-2, Sayyad-1A has IR tracking. This Project was First Joint Winner-Applied Research in 14th Khwarizmi International Award- 2001;Tehran-Iran -The Project Title:Manufacture of Sayyad-1 Missile -Initiator: Iran Aerospace Ind. Org. Contributor:HESA & Arak Machine Ind.[11] | |
Ghareh | Surface-to-air missile | 10 | upgraded copy of SA-5 Gammon with 250 km range. Iran has five battalions and each battalion is composed of six launchers and one fire control radar. | |
SA-6 Gainful | Surface-to-air missile | 8 | 1995–present | Reports of eight SA-6 systems transferred to Iran from Russia in 1995/1996. |
SA-5 Gammon | Surface-to-air missile | 200 | Locally upgraded and improved [12][13] | |
Rapier missile | Surface-to-air missile | 30 | 1971–present | 45 towed systems with Blindfire radar delivered before 1979. 72 self-propelled systems and local production of 1,000 missiles cancelled 1979 |
Tigercat | Surface-to-air missile | 15 | ||
SA-22 Greyhound (Pantsyr S1) | Surface-to-air missile | 10 | 2008–present | [14][15] |
Tor missile system | Surface-to-air missile | 29 | 2005–present | [16] |
S-300 | Surface-to-air missile | 4 | Iran claim to possess two S-300PT from Belarus and two others from another unspecified source despite Russian refusal to deliver them.[17] Iran announced that it had a "domestically made" system with the same capabilities as the S-300, but this is unverified.[18] | |
Mersad | Air Defense System | + | 2010 | Iranian designed Air Defense system using Shahin missiles. |
Raad | Air Defense System | + | 2012 | Iranian air defense system based on Russian Buk. |
Ya Zahra | Air Defense System | + | 2013 | Mass production began in January 2013.[19] |
Herz-9 | Air Defense System | + | 2013 | Mass production began in May 2013.[20] |
Bavar-373 | Air Defense System | + | 2014 | In production as of August 2014. An Iran long range Air Defense System based on the Russian S-300.[21] |
Man-portable air-defense systems
Model | Type | Quantity |
---|---|---|
Misagh-1 | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
Misagh-2 | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
Qaem | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
RBS-70 | Man-portable air-defense systems | 50 |
SA-7 Grail | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
SA-14 Gremlin | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
SA-16 Gimlet | Man-portable air-defense systems | 700[22] |
SA-18 Grouse | Man-portable air-defense systems | + |
Radar systems
- Gamma radar (Russian origin)[23]
- Kasta radar (Russian origin)[24]
- 1L13 "Nebo" VHF radar (Russian origin) [25]
- Vostok radar (Belorussian origin) [26]
- Kolchuga (Ukrainian origin) [27]
- JY-14 Radar (Chinese origin) [28]
- Matla-ul-fajr radar (Iranian origin)
- Kashef 1&2 radars (Iranian origin)
- Alim radar (Iranian origin)
- Thamen radar (Iranian origin) [29]
- Ghadir - The Ghadir radar system which covers areas (maximum) 1,100 km in distance and 300 km in altitude (Iranian origin) [30][31][32]
- Najm-802 - Phased array radar system (Iranian origin) [30]
- Sepehr - Over-the-horizon radar with a range of 3,000 kilometers (Iranian origin) [33][34]
- Arash - long range radar (Iranian origin)[35]
References
- ^ "Iran MODAFL: Air Defenses". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Russia pulls plug on Iran arms deal". UPI. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ Cordesman, Anthony H.; Kleiber, Martin (2007). Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting Capabilities. pp. 62–64. ISBN 9780892065011. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Iran Produces Anti-Aircraft Cannon: Samavat". YouTube. 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "IRGC receives anti-aircraft cannons". PressTV. 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ http://old.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=217311
- ^ http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=218885
- ^ "Iran Starts Building Powerful Air Defense Base in South". Fars News Agency. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Iran to Boost Air-Defense Power with New Long-Range System Soon". Fars News Agency. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "No Operation". PressTV. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ a b [1][dead link]
- ^ "Fars News Agency :: Iran Optimizes Missile System". English.farsnews.com. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ "Almaz/Antei Concern of Air Defence S-200 Angara/Vega (SA-5 'Gammon') low to high-altitude surface-to-air missile system". Jane's Information Group. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
- ^ "Iran set to obtain Pantsyr via Syria - Jane's Defence News". Janes.com. 2007-05-22. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ "Syria is to send Iran air defence systems from Russia: Jane's". Turkishpress.com. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Tor M1 9M330 Air Defense System". Defense Update. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Russia halts sale of air defense missiles to Iran". The Washington Post. June 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ "Iran to unveil S300-type air defence system". Trade Arabia Business News Information. 8 Feb 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ Iran starts mass production of Ya Zahra - Armyrecognition.com, January 27, 2013
- ^ http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9202242360
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/bavar-373.htm
- ^ "Iran Iranian army land ground armed forces military equipment armoured vehicle intelligence pictures". Army Recognition. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/285015/%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%88-%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%86-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%88%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3
- ^ http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/103486/%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7-%D8%A8%D8%B1-x-%D9%88-y-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%81-%D9%BE%D9%87%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%88-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3
- ^ Dr Carlo Kopp. "Reassessing Iran's Air Defences". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/196644/اولین-تصاویر-از-جدیدترین-رادارهای-ایران-برای-مقابله-با-جنگندههای-رادارگریز
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ John C Wise. "PLA Air Defence Radars". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "امیر اسماعیلی در گفتگو با فارس: جدیدترین رادار بومی با نام "ثامن" عملیاتی میشود". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ a b http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/100981/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%85-%DA%86%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86
- ^ "Iran officially unveils new long-range radar". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Iran Can Now Detect U.S. Stealth Jets at Long Range". Medium. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "Iran to produce 3000-km-range radar". PressTV. 2010-11-14. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Iran develops long-range radar system". PressTV. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "با حضور امیر اسماعیلی رادار برد بلند «آرش» وارد چرخه عملیاتی پدافند هوایی شد+تصاویر". Retrieved 11 November 2014.