Iran's 3rd Khordad air defense system: A proven threat to US aircraft

By Ali Halawi
Source: Al Mayadeen English
14 May 2024 03:28
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After years of development, Iran's 3rd Khordad air defense system is leading the country's tactical anti-air force, boasting formidable capabilities.

The Iranian 3rd Khordad air defense launch vehicles are seen at a display, including a Transporter Erector Launcher and Radar (TELAR) vehicle, left, and a TEL vehicle, right.

The Iranian 3rd Khordad Tactical air defense system was designed to counter United States aircraft and airborne munition, an Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) advisor revealed.

Brigadier General Ali Reza Balali was interviewed by the Iranian Fars News Agency, where he highlighted the operational capabilities of the indigenous air defense system.

Balali is an advisor for the renowned IRGC Aerospace Force, which has made massive strides in recent years, producing multiple offensive and defensive missile systems that have proven successful in recent confrontations. He said that the 3rd Khordad Tactical air defense system is an outright mobile and tactical system designed for countering American forces in the region.

Sevom Khordad specifications

The 3rd Khordad system has been compared to the Soviet-Russian-developed Buk self-propelled medium-range missile system for having similar tactical and operational qualities. Iran's homegrown system consists of just one mobile vehicle that hosts both slots that fit three Taer-2 missile variants and a radar system. The vehicle boasts an X-band Active Phased array engagement radar (AESA) that can detect 100 targets, engage four, and guide two missiles on a target at a time.

Khordad battery and battalion set up

Although the design of the 3rd Khordad is meant to equip Iranian air defense forces with the ability to quickly deploy batteries into areas of confrontation, a battery of the 3rd Khordad can also contain an additional two Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicles. This would allow forces to utilize nine missiles at a time when needed. 3rd Khordad TEL vehicles are built on the same 6x6 IVECO-modified truck as the aforementioned system but do not host AESAs.

A 3rd Khordad battalion would therefore contain four Transporter Erector Launchers and Radars (TELAR), eight TELs, and a Bashir S-band Phased Array Surveillance Radar, which has a detection range of 350 km.

Recently it has been reported that 3rd Khordad launch vehicles can be equipped with Taer-3 surface-to-air missiles which would push the system's engagement range to 200 km.

Modifications for close-range combat

The system has proven to be successful and has also been the blueprint for modifications that produced the 9-Dey anti-cruise missile system. The 9-Dey launch vehicle contains eight canisters that can be loaded with the equivalent number of short-range missiles.

An infographic showcasing the Dey-9 system and its capabilities. (Al Mayadeen)

First and only ever downing of an American RQ-4 Global Hawk

Most notably, the 3rd Khordad system was able to down an American RQ-4 Global Hawk over the Strait of Hormuz. The RQ-4 is a massive long-range multirole unmanned aerial system (UAS). It boasts high endurance capabilities and is equipped with multiple state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. The 3rd Khordad system's operation in June 2019, marked the only successful downing of the drone, which could be considered to be the crème de la crème of US aerial drone technology.

A mockup of Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance System plane RQ-4 Global Hawk is on display during a press briefing of the plane at a public exhibition hall in Tokyo, Japan, on March 24, 2010. (AP)

In the context of Iran's ongoing fight to produce its own indigenous defense systems, Brigadier General Balali said that the country should always take the combat power of its enemies into account when developing its weapons. As such the 3rd Khordad provide air defense forces with the ability to quickly mobilize their capabilities and retreat from launching positions. He also said that Tehran is heading in the right direction and its defensive engagements require it to equip itself with state-of-the-art weapons.