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Iran tests Sayyad-3G air defense missile in southern waters
According to a footage released during the drills on Saturday, the missile was fired from the vessel Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, marking the system’s operational debut at sea.
The Sayyad-3G is the naval variant of Iran’s Sayyad-3 air defense missile and features a vertical launch system with a reported range of 150 kilometers (93 miles), Press TV reported.
Iranian officials said the missile offers medium-to-long-range air defense coverage and facilitates the establishment of a regional air defense umbrella for vessels of the Shahid Soleimani class.
Authorities stated that the system is capable of independently detecting and engaging aerial threats, while also being integrated into a broader command-and-control network. This dual capability, they said, enhances the survivability of naval units against a range of air threats.
With a declared 150-kilometer range, the Sayyad-3G is designed to intercept and destroy various airborne targets, including fighter jets, high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, support aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, and cruise missiles. Iranian officials described the missile as adding long-range defensive capacity to the country’s naval operations.
The Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical energy transit chokepoints – was the location of the three-day “Smart Control” drills, which began on February 16.
The IRGC naval forces started military drills off the country’s southern coast on Monday, practicing smart control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The drills come amid heightened regional tensions and repeated US threats to attack Iran if it does not accept its nuclear demands, among others.