Iran Unveils New Short-Range Air Defense System

Iran recently unveiled a new air-defense system, designated Herze 9, that comprises a shelter carrying an engagement radar of domestic design and electro-optical systems (both thermal and TV are used) providing the system relative immunity to electronic-countermeasures.

The system displayed carries two missile rail launchers located in sealed canisters. The Chinese HS-80 system that the Iranians have followed in their design was carrying four missiles.

The cooperation between Tehran and Beijing can be traced back late 1980s, when Iran handed over to Chinasome of the captured Iraqi hardware, including French Crotale systems for examination and reverse engineering. The result was the CPMIEC Chinese HQ-7B / FM-80 / FM-90 self-propelled air defense system. Simlar to the Chinese FM-90 system, the range of the Iranian Herze-9 is 8-12 km. “The new missile is 100% domestically made and corresponds with the tactics used by the armed forces,” IRGC Aerospace Commander, Brigadier General Hajizadeh said.

In the past Iran has tried to locally assemble HQ-7/FM-80 systems. In 2002 Tehran announced its defense industries managed to domestically produce a surface to air missile system named ‘Shahab Thaqeb’. This system closely resemebled the Chinese HQ-7which Iran had already received. At the time it was not clear whether the complete system was produced in Iran or only parts assembled in country. The Herze-9 could be an enhanced version of that weapon.