Iranian Air Defence Systems | News and Discussions

[Jalz]

There dozens of videos where we can see air defence systems getting destroyed by loitering munitions that can only be launched by Israeli jets. In those videos it can be seen there are personal operating them, so I would considered their operational status and perhaps lack of experience to be far more likely factor.

The loitering munition were probably smuggled into the country before hand. They built drone factories here.

 

[vmro]

The loitering munition were probably smuggled into the country before hand. They built drone factories here.

AD network should be protected from such drones, probably there is adequate system for that....and of course, localization and neutralized drone factories in Iran.

 

[Jalz]

AD network should be protected from such drones, probably there is adequate system for that....and of course, localization and neutralized drone factories in Iran.

They probably didn't expect such a high level of infiltration.

 

[alireza]

In theory, what happened was not supposed to happen.

I published a sample of an air campaign against Iran in april 2025 (one month before Israel's attacks on Iran), an account on the X platform used data modeling and AI to produce this data, considering everything Israel did, I believe that a good part of what was reported in this analysis of the air campaign in april 2025 was true and actually happened.

Structure and Capabilities

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Name (type)	Altitude	Missile	Detect range (km)	Tracking range (km)	Min. range (km)	Max range (km)	Max altitude (km)	Notes
Misaq-3 (MANPADS)	Low	-	-	-	3	5	3.5 km	Licensed by China (QW-1)
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ya Zahra-3	Medium	Shahab-e Thaqeb	-	-	1 km	16 km	11 km	Used by IRGCASF.
Herz-eh Nobom	Medium	Shahab-e Thaqeb	-	-	1 km	16 km	11 km	Mobile system fully coupled to Ya Zahra.
Tabas	Low-medium	Taer-2A/2B, 3M9/9M9 Kub (24 km)	250 km	-	75 km	30 km	27 km	It can be coupled with the Bashir search radar.
Raad-1	Medium	Taer-1 (50 km), 3M9/9M9 Kub (24 km)	-	-	3 km	50 km	23 km	Used by IRGCASF.
Mersad-1/2, Qader	Low-medium	Shahin, Shalamcheh, Sayyad-2	150 km	80 km	45 km	75 km	18 km	Used by IRIADF. Can be paired with Najm-804 and Hafaz mobile search systems (detection at 350 km, tracking at 110-150 km).
Talash-1	Medium-high	Sayyad-1	150 km	-	35 km	75 km	-	Used to protect targets against a variety of airborne threats.
3rd of Khordad / Khordad-3	Medium-high	Taer-2/2B, Sayyad-2/3	400 km	150 km	50 km	105 km	30 km	Used by IRGCASF. Includes new launchers.
Talash-2	Medium-high	Sayyad-2, Sayyad-3	150 km	-	75 km	120 km	27 km	Updated version of the S-200 system.

Sayyad	Medium-high	Sayyad-2, Sayyad-4	150 km	150 km	50 km	150 km	27 km	Active radar with a range of 1500/1000 km.
Bavar-373	High	Sayyad-2, Sayyad-4	320 km	260 km	75 km	200/300 km	27	High-altitude air defense system with advanced capabilities.

This is not up-to-date data and I did not have time to check each Iranian air defense system due to lack of time.

Iran’s Air Defense Force is comprised of a combination of SAM systems, state-of-the-art radars, and early warning systems. The force is responsible for detecting, intercepting, and destroying any airborne threat, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Air Defense Systems: Iran has a diverse array of anti-aircraft missile systems, both short-range and long-range. The most advanced of these is the Bavar-373, which became operational in 2019 and is capable of intercepting targets at altitudes of up to 27 km and ranges of up to 200 km. Other systems include the Soviet-made S-200, the Talash, and the Mersad, a modernized version of the Hawk system.

Radars and Early Warning Systems: The IRIADF also operates an extensive network of radars and surveillance systems that cover the entire Iranian territory. These systems are crucial to providing a complete aerial picture and anticipating potential air attacks. Key radars include the Sepehr, which has a range of 3,000 km, and the Ghadir, which is also capable of detecting stealth aircraft and ballistic missiles.

Integration with Other Armed Forces: The IRIADF works closely with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and Navy to coordinate air defense operations and ensure a rapid response to any threats. The integration of communication and command systems allows Iran to respond in a coordinated manner to any violation of its airspace.

An important feature of Iran’s air defense is its emphasis on self-sufficiency. Due to international sanctions, Iran has had to develop its own weapons systems and radar technologies. Iran’s defense industry has grown substantially in recent decades, and the IRIADF has been a major beneficiary of these advances. In addition to the Bavar-373, Iran has produced several indigenous systems, such as the Khordad 3, which gained notoriety in 2019 after shooting down a US surveillance drone, the Global Hawk, over the Strait of Hormuz.

The development of these capabilities is part of Iran’s strategy to minimize its dependence on foreign suppliers and to ensure continued defense against attacks from adversary states, such as the United States and Israel. The IRIADF also conducts regular air defense exercises, such as Velayat Sky Shield, to test and enhance its readiness.

The Problem with Iran’s Strategy

The effectiveness of its air defenses could be tested in modern conflicts, where threats such as cruise missiles and stealth aircraft are increasingly sophisticated. Iran also faces continued pressure from international sanctions, which limit its access to cutting-edge technologies and components crucial to maintaining its systems.

It is abundantly clear that the force has played a key role in deterring potential air strikes and protecting the country's critical infrastructure, such as nuclear and military facilities, but none of that mattered when the actual attack took place.

Iran should have adopted a strategy similar to the Ukrainian one at the beginning of the war, staying hidden and disconnected, waiting for the attack on the targets and, immediately after the attack, the batteries turn on the radars and try to shoot down any evading planes.

Almost like an aerial “guerrilla” strategy.

The reality is that the Iranian defense tried to adopt a conventional strategy against the IAF, but it was not the main threat they initially faced. All of Iran’s air defense was compromised by cyber attacks, commando actions attacking with drones and ATGMs.

Rapier isn't used anymore. Hasn't been seen in a long long time. I doubt FM-80 is still being used either. That has also not been seen in a very long time.
Iran uses Majid now as a SHORAD instead of Rapier and FM-80. They have also developed other SHORAD systems in addition to Majid but Majid is the most commonly seen SHORAD amongst IRIADF.

 

[Anatolian]

The loitering munition were probably smuggled into the country before hand. They built drone factories here.

You can't just casually smuggle Delilah missiles into Iran bruh let alone fire it from the ground.

 

[vizier]

They probably didn't expect such a high level of infiltration.

protecting against quad copters is somewhat easier. Fish net style full cover over vehicles catching quad copters and if possible metal netting that would take out fixed wing propeller type of drones. It wont protect against spike atgms though. If the locations are known to enemy and your vehicles stay at the same place all the time without moving your ad are eventually destroyed anyways.

Ukrainian soldiers, engineers add metal netting to US tanks and vehicles to protect against Russian drones

As the vast use of drones has become a feature of the Ukrainian-Russian war, soldiers said they have found a new way to keep precious vehicles protected on battlefields.

abcnews.go.com

Counter Drone Nets - Think Defence

Counter drone nets and mesh screens, options and discussion

www.thinkdefence.co.uk

 

[Nuffle]

Rapier isn't used anymore. Hasn't been seen in a long long time. I doubt FM-80 is still being used either. That has also not been seen in a very long time.
Iran uses Majid now as a SHORAD instead of Rapier and FM-80. They have also developed other SHORAD systems in addition to Majid but Majid is the most commonly seen SHORAD amongst IRIADF.

Right!!! But that doesn't rule out part of the reason for Iran's current catastrophe: its air defenses were already decentralized and insufficiently networked.

This was public knowledge a few months ago, so it's almost certain that the intelligence agencies knew about it for a longer time.

Iran’s (Not So) Integrated Air Defenses at Natanz

www.armscontrolwonk.com

 

[Mr Iran Eye]

New anti-drone defense systems and tactics have been recently tested across multiple cities including Tabriz.

 

[Immortals]

Right!!! But that doesn't rule out part of the reason for Iran's current catastrophe: its air defenses were already decentralized and insufficiently networked.

This was public knowledge a few months ago, so it's almost certain that the intelligence agencies knew about it for a longer time.

Iran’s (Not So) Integrated Air Defenses at Natanz

www.armscontrolwonk.com

Considering that Iran’s command and control centers have been seen in videos using Windows XP and other older Microsoft OS, it’s probably best that not everything was fully integrated or else a massive cyber attack could have crippled the network.

 

[Mr Iran Eye]

With the arrival of Chinese and Russian weapons, plus the domestic production of new weapons and the improvement of their own, Iran will be more powerful than ever.

I hope they will mass-produce the updated Mesbah missile system, which will be very useful against drones.

A merger between the Mesbah system and the Majid air defense system, as well as the Azarakhsh air defense system, would be very useful and truly robust.

 

[Hack-Hook]

I hope they will mass-produce the updated Mesbah missile system, which will be very useful against drones.

do you mean Mesbah-1 ? it use no missile

 

[Persian Gulf]

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it is sad we are celebrating using passive EO systems to drone MALE drones over central Iran, something the Houthis do to the US (better than we ever did)

Iranian media told us several F-35s were shot down and a female Israeli pilot was captured. still waiting for them to show us this captured pilot.

 

[Rational Philosopher]

There dozens of videos where we can see air defence systems getting destroyed by loitering munitions that can only be launched by Israeli jets. In those videos it can be seen there are personal operating them, so I would considered their operational status and perhaps lack of experience to be far more likely factor.

Can you post those videos here?

 

[alireza]

Venezuela has two units of S300VM SAM in one batallion that provide Anti Ballistic Missile defense. Given that Venezuela doesn't have a ballistic missile threat from its neighbors and in the event of war against the US, they wouldn't last long given the size of USAF against Venezuela. Could Iran negotiate to purchase those two units? Maybe provide Venezuela with different military equipment that they could actually benefit from?

 

[BigMela2onin]

Venezuela has two units of S300VM SAM in one batallion that provide Anti Ballistic Missile defense. Given that Venezuela doesn't have a ballistic missile threat from its neighbors and in the event of war against the US, they wouldn't last long given the size of USAF against Venezuela. Could Iran negotiate to purchase those two units? Maybe provide Venezuela with different military equipment that they could actually benefit from?

How would you stop the US from interdicting them on the way to Iran? It is different than getting something from Russia or China. Also Russia would throw a huge fit about them re-exporting their equipment.