Despite the fact that the United States and other Western countries supplied the most modern weapons during the Shah's reign, by the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war, there were no tactical missile systems in the Islamic Republic. The first tactical missile system delivered from China to Iran was the M-7 (project 8610), created on the basis of the HQ-2 air defense system (the Chinese version of the C-75). The tactical missile, designed on the basis of the SAM, completely borrowed its propulsion system and the design as a whole, but had an inertial guidance system. By saving weight on the instrument part of the guidance equipment, it was possible to increase the weight of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead to 250 kg. The creation in the mid-80s of a tactical missile based on SAM was in many ways a forced decision. This can be explained by the lack of our own experience in the creation of missile weapons and an attempt to save money. In the PRC, where nuclear weapons were tested in 1964, there were no tactical missile systems for a long period of time. So, the first DF-11 complex with a single-stage solid-propellant rocket was adopted only in the late 80s. For conversion into tactical missiles, HQ-2 missiles of early modifications, which had exhausted their resource, were originally used. However, later began the targeted production of missiles designed to destroy ground targets.
In the second half of the 80s, deliveries of Chinese air defense systems began to Iran. Later, after the transfer of the documentation package, independent production of HQ-2 complexes and anti-aircraft missiles was established in the Islamic Republic. In this regard, there were no difficulties with the reproduction of the Chinese tactical complex, the first 90 missiles were supplied from the PRC. Just like the SAM, the tactical missile was two-stage - the first stage was solid-propellant, and the second was liquid-propellant.
"Tondar-69"
In Iran, the tactical complex was designated Tondar-69. The rocket was launched from a standard launcher used as part of the air defense system. A missile weighing 2650 kg could hit targets at a distance of 50-150 km. The declared KVO is 150 meters, which, however, is difficult to achieve for a missile of such a scheme, with a primitive guidance system.
On the one hand, the use of a missile, not much different from an anti-aircraft missile, as part of a tactical complex, made production and maintenance cheaper, and facilitated personnel training. On the other hand, the effectiveness of such a weapon is highly questionable. The missile carries a warhead that is not powerful enough to effectively engage ground targets. Large dispersion from the aiming point makes its use justified only against large area targets located in the frontal zone, such as airfields, railway junctions, cities or large industrial enterprises. Launching a rocket over your own troops is highly undesirable, since the separating first stage poses a mortal danger when falling. Preparing for combat use is a rather complicated process. Since the transportation of the fueled rocket over long distances is impossible, the refueling is carried out near the towed launcher. After that, the rocket from the transport-loading vehicle is transferred to the launcher.
It is clear that a fire battery, which includes bulky conveyors and tanks with flammable fuel and a caustic oxidizer that ignites flammable substances in the frontal zone, is a very vulnerable target. At present, the Tondar-69 missile system clearly does not meet modern requirements, its combat and service-operational characteristics are unsatisfactory. However, until recently, these missiles were launched during the exercise. They are also used as supersonic training targets during air defense crew training.
Sometime in 1985, Saddam Hussein's troops fired Soviet-made Luna solid-fuel tactical missiles. Rockets with a launch weight of about 2.5 tons and a launch range of up to 70 km fired at headquarters, transport hubs, places of concentration of troops and warehouses. After that, Iran began work on creating its own Nazeat missiles with similar characteristics. To date, it is known about two modifications of solid-propellant rockets Nazeat-6 and Nazeat-10, differing in launch weight and base chassis. The first missiles entered the troops even before the end of hostilities, but there are no reliable details of their combat use.
"Nazeat-6"
Self-propelled launcher Nazeat-6 is built on the basis of a two-axle all-wheel drive truck. The missile weighing 960 kg has a launch range of 100 km. Warhead weight - 130 kg.
"Nazeat-10"
The heavier Nazeat-10 weighing 1,830 kg is transported and launched from a three-axle truck. The missile is capable of delivering a 230 kg warhead to a range of up to 130 km. Apparently, these missiles have already been removed from service, which, however, is not surprising. The circular probable deviation of 500-600 meters when using a relatively light warhead is absolutely unacceptable by modern standards. In addition, the first Iranian solid-propellant missiles, due to imperfect fuel charges, had a shelf life of no more than 8 years. After that, the powder bills began to crack, which threatened with unforeseen consequences during the launch.
Since there is no control system on the Nazeat missiles, in fact, they were large primitive NURSs. Nevertheless, the creation and operation of solid-propellant tactical missiles made it possible to accumulate the necessary experience and work out the method of application.
To replace the tactical complexes of the Nazeat family, Zelzal missiles were created in the 90s. However, their revision lasted long enough, and TR "Zelzal-1" and "Zelzal-2" did not receive wide distribution, which is also associated with unsatisfactory accuracy.
"Zelzal-1"
The reference books indicate that Zelzal-1, with a weight of 2000 kg, can have a launch range of 160 km. The next modification "Zelzal-2", which appeared in 1993, with a mass of 3500 kg can hit targets at a distance of up to 210 km. Warhead weight - 600 kg. Compared to the first model, the rocket has become longer and has a more streamlined shape.
"Zelzal-2"
In the Zelzal-3 model with a starting weight of 3870 kg, additional measures have been taken to improve shooting accuracy. After launch, the rocket is spun up with a special powder charge, the gases of which escape through oblique nozzles in the upper part of the rocket. Zelzal-3 can deliver a 900 kg warhead to a range of 180 km. With the installation of a 600 kg warhead, the range increases to 235 km. KVO is 1000-1200 meters.
Triple launcher "Zelzal-3"
Various towed and self-propelled transporters are used for Zelzal missiles. The Zelzal-3 model can be launched from a single self-propelled launcher based on a three-axle truck and from a towed trailer, which carries three missiles at once. Apparently, the developers in this way tried to increase the likelihood of defeat: three missiles launched at one target have a much higher chance of success even with low accuracy.
Launch of Zelzal-3
In 2011, a major exercise was held in the southwestern part of the country with the participation of missile units. Then more than 10 launches of Zelzal-3 missiles were noted. After the shooting ended at a briefing on the results of the exercise, Iranian senior military officials said the missiles had demonstrated "high effectiveness."
Despite some progress, a common feature of the first generation Iranian tactical missiles is low firing accuracy. In the case of using conventional warheads, the combat effectiveness of these complexes is very low. In this regard, using the technical solutions implemented in the Zelzal missiles, specialists from the Iranian company Aviation Industries Organization created the Fateh-110 guided missile in 2001. According to experts from Global Security, it was designed with the technical support of the PRC. This is also indicated by the fact that the first version of the Fateh-110 was launched from the Tondar-69 launcher. Unlike unguided missiles of the Zelzal family, the front of the Fateh-110 has movable steering surfaces.
The first version of "Fateh-110"
On September 6, 2002, Iranian state television announced the successful tests of Fateh-110. The report said that this is one of the most accurate missiles of this class in the world.
Self-propelled launcher "Fateh-110" on the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz truck
The first version of the rocket with a launch range of 200 km had an inertial guidance system. In the modification, which appeared in 2004, with a launch range of up to 250 km, the missile flight is adjusted according to the data of the global navigation satellite system. However, it is not clear how efficient such a guidance system will be in the event of a collision with a technologically advanced enemy. In 2008, this modification was offered for export. It is reported that with the help of Iran, the production of Fateh-110 missiles under the designation M-600 has been established in Syria. In 2013, Syrian tactical missile systems were used to attack Islamist positions.
In 2010, the "third generation" Fateh-110 missiles appeared. The launch range of a rocket weighing about 3,500 kg has been increased to 300 km. According to some reports, in addition to the inertial guidance system, this missile uses an optoelectronic guidance head, which compares the target image with a pre-loaded image. When launched at the maximum range in the target area, the missile develops a speed of 3, 5-3, 7 M and carries a 650 kg warhead.
A twin self-propelled launcher on the chassis of a three-axle truck has been developed for the rocket of the new modification. According to Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, the "third generation" missile has improved not only the accuracy, but also the reaction time and storage time of the missiles.
A further development of the Fateh-110 was the Fateh-330. Information about this rocket was made public in August 2015. Thanks to the use of a lightweight composite body reinforced with carbon fiber and a new composite fuel, the launch range has been increased to 500 km. In 2016, another version became known, which received the designation Zulfiqar. An increased efficiency cluster warhead has been developed for this missile with a launch range of up to 700 km. It is noteworthy that in a short period of time the Iranians managed to significantly improve the characteristics of their solid-propellant missiles, which in terms of launch range have already surpassed the first liquid-propellant missiles of the Shehab family.
Talking about Iranian tactical missile systems, one should mention the solid-propellant missiles of the Fajr family. The first missiles, known as the Fajr-3, entered service in 1990. With a caliber of 240 mm and a weight of 407 kg, the missile carrying a 45 kg warhead can hit targets at a range of 43 km. To launch Fajr-3, both single-shot and multi-barreled launchers on a self-propelled chassis are used.
Rocket artillery vehicle "Fajr-5"
In 1996, with the help of the PRC, Iran created the Fajr-5 missile with a launch range of 75 km. The missile has a caliber of 330 mm, a length of 6, 48 m and a mass of 915 kg, it carries a 175 kg warhead. The rocket artillery combat vehicle has four launch tubes. In addition, there is a two-stage 9-meter version of the rocket with a launch range of 190 km. This missile uses China's BeiDow 2 satellite navigation system for guidance. At the same time, the KVO when firing at a maximum range is 50 meters. In 2006, Fajr-5 missiles, designated Khaibar-1, were used by Hezbollah to fire at northern Israeli territories.
Currently, the militarized Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah, in addition to homemade rockets, Katyusha and Grad MLRS, also has Fajr-3, Fajr-5 and Zelzal missiles at its disposal.
As already mentioned, Iranian-made missiles were used during hostilities in the Syrian Arab Republic and for shelling Israel. But more recently, on June 18, 2017, in response to terrorist attacks in Tehran, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile units from missile bases in the Iranian provinces of Kermanshah and Kurdistan launched 6 to 10 Zulfiqar and Shahab-3 missiles.
This was the first combat use of Iranian missiles of this class since the end of the Iran-Iraq war. According to Janes Defense Weekly, the missiles flew about 650 km before hitting targets in the Deir El Zor area. Information about the targets of the strikes was provided by the Syrian command. The moment of the missile attack on the intended targets was filmed from the UAV. According to information voiced by the representative of the IRGC, Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, 170 terrorists were killed as a result of the missile strike. This action caused a completely predictable reaction in Israel. The chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Gadi Eisenkot, said that the missiles fell far from the aiming point. At the same time, he acknowledged that Iran has demonstrated its determination to use missile capabilities when needed. On June 24, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, objected, noting that the deviation of the warheads from the aiming point was within normal limits, and the Israelis recorded the fall of the separating elements of the missiles.
Missile strikes against terrorist positions in Syria demonstrated the ability of Iranian ballistic missiles to successfully engage targets in the Middle East region. In the range of Iranian missile systems are the capitals of the Sunni monarchies and their oil fields, numerous American military bases and the territory of the State of Israel. If tactical and operational-tactical missile systems in Iran are viewed as a means of destruction in the frontal zone, then medium-range missiles are a kind of "retaliation weapon" that the Iranian leadership can use in the event of a large-scale aggression against their country. Despite the loud statements that the accuracy of the destruction of Iranian missiles is several tens of meters, this is hardly true. But even with a KVO of 1, 5-2 km, the use of missiles with a warhead equipped with a persistent poisonous agent of neuroparalytic action in large cities will lead to numerous casualties and injuries. In this case, the effect will be comparable to the use of a tactical nuclear charge, and the count of the poisoned will go to many thousands. Given the fact that Iran may have several hundred MRBMs, they are quite capable of over-saturating the American and Israeli missile defense systems. And the breakthrough of even one such missile can have disastrous consequences.
