Mersad

Mersad (Persian: مرصاد, meaning 'Ambush') is an Iranian low to mid range air defense system developed in 2010.[2] It fires Shahin (Falcon) missiles which are reverse engineered, domestically upgraded versions of the American MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missiles. It uses a series of domestically produced radars and electronic devices.[3]

This article is about Mersad Air Defense System. For Iran-Iraq War Opereation, see Operation Mersad.
Mersad
Mersad equipped with Shahin missiles
TypeAir defense system
Place of originIran
Service history
In serviceSince 2010
Used byIran
Production history
ProducedSince 2010
VariantsMersad, Mersad Phase I, Mersad Phase II (Under Development)
Specifications
MassShalamche: 636 kg
 lengthShalamche: 5030 mm
DiameterShalamche: 356 mm
Main
armament
3x Shahin or Shlamche Missiles
EngineSolid propellant rocket engine
Operational
range
Shahin: 45 km (30 miles)[1]

Shalamche: 40 km

Phase II: ~60 km (Planned)
Maximum speed More than Mach 2.4, Shalamche: Mach 3
Guidance
system
Semi-active radar homing

Development

In 2010, Iran announced that it had launched the production line of a new air defense system named, Mersad, which incorporates Shahin missiles.[2][3][4][5] It was said that the system consists of different target tracing and tracking radars, soft and hardware networks, launch pads for Shahin missiles and a command and control center. Iranian defense minister Ahmad Vahidi said that the Mersad air defense system has superior capabilities and includes more capabilities than its western rivals like the Hawk mid-range defense system. Vahidi reiterated that Mersad is resistant to electronic warfare and can be used as part of a network of radar and air defense systems[4] and is fully digital.[2] The Shahin missile is an improved reverse-engineered version of US-made MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile sold to Iran before the 1979 revolution.[6]

Some months later, Iran announced that it has increased the range and altitude of the missile defense system.[7] Vahidi also noted that the new system can also engage more targets at the same time.[7]

In November 2010, Iranian air force colonel Faramarz Ruh Afza said that Mersad has a limited ability to intercept ballistic missiles.[8] That same day, the commander of Khatam al anbia base, Ahmad Miqani, said that Iran is working on the improving the Mersad with the second phase including double range and altitude.[9][10]

Test

Iran tested the Mersad two days after Miqani's speech in an Air Defense Wargame called Defenders of the Skies of Velayat III. In this test, Iran shot down a UAV using its Mersad Air Defense System.[11]

Also on April 18, 2011, Iran tested two other Mersad missiles from a site in Semnan. Later it was announced that the missiles were not Shahin. But a further upgraded one called Shalamche.[12][13] Iranian Defense minister Ahmad Vahidi stated that the speed is now about mach 3 with an increase of about mach 0.6 . He called the missile state of art because of its new electronics which made it highly resistance to Electronic warfare. He said that the range of this missile is about 40 km and it is going to be increased.[14]

Later On May 16, Iran tested the new missile again in an air defense war game in eastern Iran.[15]

According to Iranian officials, the most important factors of new Mersad Phase I system are increase in range and a new advanced algorithm for guiding the missile into its target.[16]

On September 4, Iran announced that Shalamche missile is now being delivered to Iranian Air Defense Force.[17]

On November 14, 2012, The Shalamcheh missile was fired from the Mersad air defense system at a Karrar (UCAV), which was destroyed, during the Defenders of the Skies of Velayat 4 drill.[18]

In February 2017, a modified version of Mersad system was test fired during the Defenders of the Skies of Velayat in Semnan province alongside two other Air defense systems. Based on reports new Mersad system can hit its targets in 35 miles away.[19][20]

This missile defense system[21][22][23] was also tested at "Air Defense (Military) Exercise of Velayat-97" (with new missiles) in November 2018;[24] Mersad's[25][26][27] newest version[28] (known as "Mersad-16")[29] was also tested at "military exercise of Velayat-98" in December 2019.[30][31]

Radars

Mersad[32][33][34] uses four radars. The PAR radar, called Kavosh, is an upgraded copy of the original AN/MPQ-50. The maximum range is increased to 150 km and an IFF system is added to the radar. A new CWAR called Jouiya is used to detect low altitude targets. The HPIR radar, called Hadi, is an upgraded version of AN/MPQ-46 with an additional EO system attached to it. There is also a new supplemental HPIR radar. All of the radars use solid state electronics to have more resistance to electronic warfare and can be linked to the other Mersad systems.[35][36]

The Hadi radar has equipped with an Electro-optical system in order to detecting and tracking of targets when the battlefield is affected by heavy jamming.

The Mersad[37][38] system detection range is 150 km and it can lock on targets in 80 km distance. Also it can detect targets with RCS about 0.5 square meter in range of 110 km. In addition Mersad can engage at least with 2 targets simultaneously.[1]

Also Iran developed a new phased array radar named Hafez for Mersad system. Hafez is a 3D radar with 250 km range and ability of tracking 100 targets simultaneously.[39]

Variants
  • Mersad: Basic variant. Uses the first generation of Shahin missiles.
  • Mersad Phase I: Second variant. Tested in October 2010, this variant has a higher range and altitude. It is also capable of engaging more targets simultaneously.[7]
  • Mersad Phase II: Third variant. This variant is currently under development. It will have double the range and altitude as compared to the basic Mersad.[9][10]
  • Unknown Designation:Uses Shalamche missiles instead of Shahin.
  • Kamin-2: Upgraded version of Mersad with longer range.

Operators

Comparable SAMs
gollark: *Someone else* could, though.
gollark: As I said, my main issues with the government are with the legal system, regulatory capture being a horribly common thing, monopolies not really being dealt with well or at all, lack of transparency, and horrible overreach of intelligence agencies.
gollark: (and also society being generally better does help me)
gollark: See, I actually care (somewhat) about other people.
gollark: Or, er, hedonism_irl?

See also

References
  1. http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/80408
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-11-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8901220244
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-11-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=123003&sectionid=351020101
  6. Iran missile system tested, rhetoric sharpened on eve of NATO summit csmonitor.com
  7. The new generation of "Mersad" missile system with increasing height and range farsnews.com
  8. http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1189790
  9. http://www.farsnews.net/newstext.php?nn=8908230816
  10. Production of more advanced system than S300 in the country tabnak.ir
  11. Successful firing of a Mersad missile system at a drone farsnews.com
  12. The Mersad air defense system and the Shahin missile were successfully tested gerdab.ir
  13. Shalamcheh and Zafar are the latest missile defense and cruise missiles of the army farsnews.com
  14. Massive delivery of Shalamcheh missile to Khatam al-Anbia air defense base aja.ir
  15. http://www.dolat.ir/NSite/FullStory/News/?Serv=0&Id=195700
  16. http://tebyan-zn.ir/Article/News_agency/military_news/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%83/22618.html
  17. Massive delivery of Shalamcheh missiles to Khatam base tabnak.ir
  18. Iran testfires Shalamcheh missile presstv.ir
  19. Iran fires another missile from launch-pad us official says foxnews.com
  20. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/224687#dvItemView#ItemManager.Load#?type=0&item=224560
  21. Destruction of Cruise missile/UAVs by Mersad missile system defapress.ir
  22. Missile system of Mersad aparat.com
  23. Destruction of Cruise missile/UAVs by Mersad missile system irna.ir
  24. A missile defense system called "Mersad" was unveiled yjc.ir
  25. Roaring of missile system of Mersad isna.ir
  26. Mersad missile system aparat.com
  27. Missile system of Mersad destroyed the attacker UAVs mehrnews.com
  28. Mersad (16) defapress.ir
  29. Missile achievement tasnimnews.com
  30. Destruction of the attacking drone by the "Mersad" missile system ana.ir
  31. The roar of the Mersad missile system and the destruction of the attacking drone yjc.ir
  32. Mersad (16) yjc.ir
  33. Acquaintance with Mersad hamshahrionline.ir
  34. Missile system of Mersad magiran.com
  35. http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/111308
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. Mass production of "Mersad" magiran.com
  38. Air Defense Exercises Around Nuclear Facilities bultannews.com
  39. "40 types of Iranian Radars". Mashregh News Agancy.
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