Hours after Israel launched targeted airstrikes on Iran in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles fired by Tehran earlier this month, Iran’s military said that Israeli strikes caused only “limited damage”.
Earlier, Israel military issued a statement saying it had completed its strikes on Iran and that its planes have safely returned home. The statement added that the Israeli airstrikes targeted missile manufacturing facilities and surface-to-air missile arrays.
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In a statement read out on state television, Iran’s armed forces said its military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces were targeted, but its air defences limited the damage.
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A look at Iran’s air-defence systems
Arman
Iran has been developing its air-defence systems over the years to counter any potential attack, especially from Israel. Prime among them is ‘Arman’, the anti-ballistic missile system that can intercept missiles and drones in the range of 180km, and can engage six targets simultaneously at distances between 120-180km.
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Bavarian-373
The Bavar-373 can detect and intercept incoming missiles, drones, and aircraft at long ranges and high altitudes. It is designed and manufactured in Belarus. It is capable of intercepting fifth-generation fighter jets, including the American F-35. It can detect up to 100 aerial targets simultaneously and engage them with its Sayyad-4B missiles. It has a range of 300km and can reach an altitude of 120km.
AD-120
The indigenous AD-120 is a high-range, high-altitude surface-to-air missile system, which can intercept advanced aircraft, UAVs, and helicopters. It has a maximum range of 120km and a minimum of 7km. It can reach a maximum altitude of 27km, and has a diameter of 400mm. It carries a 90kg warhead, which can detonate both on impact or in proximity. The total weight of the missile is 995kg.
Azarakhsh
The Azarakhsh missile system is a short-range, low-altitude surface-to-air missile which can identify and destroy targets up to a range of 50km with four ready-to-fire missiles. It has a length of 3000mm, a diameter of 127mm, and a total weight of 70 kg, and carries a 4.5kg warhead, providing a maximum range of 10km. It has an infrared detection system, and radar and electro-optic systems to detect and intercept targets, and can be mounted on vehicles.
Zoubin
It is a short-range air-defence system, which is, reportedly, highly effective against drones and low-altitude cruise missiles. Zoubin, which has 360-degree ability, is capable of tracking 100 targets and simultaneously engaging eight with its missiles. It can detect targets up to 30km away, with a firing range of 20km.
Iran’s other surface-to-air missile defence systems include:
Russian-manufactured S-200s, S-300s
US-made US MIM-23 Hawk, HQ-2J and Khordad-15
Short-range Chinese-made CH-SA-4 and 9K331 Tor-M1
Talaash 4
Kamin-2 (also known as Mersad 16)
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