An upgraded version of the Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile system with a range of more than 300km
Iran’s IRNA news agency said on November 6, the country announced an upgraded version of the Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile system with a range of more than 300km. During testing, the upgraded radar of the Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile system can detect targets at a range of more than 450km and track targets at a distance of 405km before destroying it at a distance of more than 300km. Before upgrading, Bavar-373 was capable of detecting, tracking and hitting targets at distances of 350km, 260km and 200km, respectively. The Bavar-373 system was officially launched for the first time on August 22, 2019.
According to the report, the target used appears to be the HESA Karrar drone. Karrar’s radar cross-section is known to be 1.64 square meters. During the tests, the X-band interactive radar used by the system was able to lock on the target at a range of 376 km. It is also reported that the maximum altitude of the interceptor has increased from 27 to 32 km.
With the upgrade of the maximum range to more than 300km, the Bavar-373 system is capable of detecting and destroying enemy aircraft outside Iran’s borders, simultaneously detecting 300 targets, tracking 60 targets and destroying 6 targets. According to Tasnim, in recent years, Iran has promoted the development of the domestic weapons industry. Iranian military experts have made great strides in self-research and mass production of modern military equipment, contributing to strengthening the army as well as the nation’s defense capabilities.
According to a report, if comparing the radar cross-section of the Karrar drone and the performance of this X-band radar to compare with the F-35, which has a radar cross-section of 0.0015 – 0.005 square meters, the Bavar-373 could engage the American fifth-gen stealth aircraft at around 90 kilometers. Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami said that Bavar could be used against strategic and tactical fighters and bombers, as well as against stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and other targets.
No official information has been released about this new Iranian missile system, but from the revealed images, Bavar-373 has at least two configurations including launchers in mode of 2 missiles and 4 missiles. The missile containers are similar to the American Patriot systems, mounted on Zoljanah 10×10 trucks. The Sayyad-4 missile is similar in structure to the Sayyad-3 on the wings and control surface, though with slight changes in its forward shape.
The Bavar-373 uses phase array radar to track aerodynamic targets and medium to long range ballistic missiles, it is mounted on ZAFAR heavy trucks. Press TV said that the Bavar-373 is much stronger than the S-300, portable, flexible and has a shorter launch time than the S-300, and even some features comparable to the S-400. According to unconfirmed information, the Bavar-373 radar can track stealth aircraft and is effective against F-22 and F-35 fighters.
