Iran’s Army unveils 2 Phased Array Radars to Detect Stealth Aircraft, Missiles

Iran’s Army has unveiled two new locally-made radars  based on AESA technology which it claims can detect low-observable aircraft, drones  besides ballistic and cruise missiles.

The radars, named Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf) and Moraqeb (Watchful), were unveiled in a ceremony on Sunday in the presence of Chief Commander of Iran’s Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Fars News Agency reported.

Khalij-e Fars is a long-range and strategic radar system with an operational range of over 800 kilometers. It is a phased-array three-dimensional radar system with modern technology that can detect all conventional and radar-evading targets as well as ballistic missiles, an official statement released to Iranian media said.

Moraqeb is also a three-dimensional advanced phased-array radar with high precision and a range of 400 kilometers. It can spot airborne targets with high accuracy and detect different types of small targets at low and medium altitudes as well as radar-evading and unmanned aerial vehicles, the statement said.

The system has been designed and manufactured by the Army’s Air Defense experts in cooperation with Iranian knowledge-based companies.

Iranian radars have in recent times detected US aircraft and drones. The Iranian Army in February claimed to have warned off an F/A-18 aircraft believed to be a US electronic attack jet operated by the US Navy.

In June 2019, the Iranian military  brought down a $220 million worth Global Hawk high altitude reconnaissance drone flying at over 20,000 meters with a surface-to-air missile. The hit would have only been possible by tracking the drone using a sophisticated radar systems linked to a GPS.