Video / Iranian Long-Range Air Defense Reaches the Sea / Launch from the Deck of IRGC’s Shahid Sayyad Vessel in the Persian Gulf

First Successful Launch from Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Vessel

During the exercise, a Sayyad 3-G missile was launched from the Shahid Sayyad Shirazi vessel, the third ship of the Shahid Soleimani-class. This advanced combat vessel, equipped with vertical launch silos, is capable of carrying up to six of these missiles. Such a capability transforms the vessel into a mobile long-range air defense platform that can play a key role in ensuring maritime security in southern waters.

A 150-Kilometer Range for Air Protection

The Sayyad 3-G missile, with a range of 150 kilometers, falls within the medium- to long-range missile category. This extended range enables vessels armed with it to track and destroy targets such as fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and high-altitude drones at considerable distances. Establishing a 150-kilometer-radius air defense bubble in the sensitive environment of the Strait of Hormuz, while enhancing deterrent capabilities, increases the complexity of potential threats and significantly contributes to the security of this key international region.

Background of the Sayyad Missile Family

The Sayyad family of air defense missiles consists of several generations. The technology began with the design of the Sayyad 1 and its upgraded version, Sayyad 1(A), which were produced based on reverse engineering of China’s HQ-2 missile. Subsequently, more advanced generations, including Sayyad 2 and Sayyad 4-B, were developed for ground-to-air defense systems. The latest version of this family, Sayyad 3-G, has now been designed for maritime use and, in addition to compatibility with vertical launch silos, has been reinforced to withstand specific conditions such as sea humidity and vibrations.

First Long-Range Sea-Based Air Defense

The deployment of the Sayyad 3-G missile on IRGC combat vessels represents an unprecedented step in the evolution of Iran’s long-range sea-based air defense. For the first time, this capability enables the establishment of a regional air defense layer at sea. As a result, Shahid Soleimani-class vessels have gone beyond purely offensive capabilities and have become platforms capable of providing an extensive air defense shield in addition to conducting offensive operations.

A Step Toward Consolidating Naval Defense Technology

The operationalization of the Sayyad 3-G missile can be regarded as a significant milestone in the evolution of the Islamic Republic’s defense technologies. This achievement is not only a symbol of progress in vertical-launch missile technology tailored for maritime use, but also demonstrates the realization of an advanced strategy for multi-role utilization of Sayyad family missile platforms. Possessing such missiles plays a key role in countering hybrid threats and critical defense scenarios, bringing the concept of “sea-based air defense” into an operational and strategic phase.