Artillery

Badr-3 heavy rocket

Also known as
  • Badr 3
  • Badr-3 rocket
  • Badr 3 rocket
  • Badr-3 surface-to-surface rocket

The Badr-3 heavy rocket is a large-calibre unguided artillery rocket tied to Iranian design support and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Gaza production network. PIJ unveiled the rocket in 2019, used it during the May 2021 Israel-Palestine Crisis, and Israeli forces later reported captured Badr-3 parts at a PIJ weapons-production post in northern Gaza in November 2023.

Badr-3 heavy rocket, Large-calibre artillery rocket, Artillery
Image source: IDF soldiers near Badr-3 rockets at outpost in northern Gaza

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Range
13 km verified by METIS; PIJ-linked reporting has claimed up to 160 km
Warhead
Commonly reported as 250-400 kg of explosive material
Guidance
Unguided
Propulsion
Solid-propellant rocket
Fuze
Nose-fuzed configuration reported by METIS
Control fins
Four clipped-delta tail fins
Launch Systems

The Badr-3 heavy rocket is documented in reporting alongside an Iranian-origin launcher system recovered in Gaza.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Badr-3 Rocket Launcher System, Rocket launcher system associated with the Badr-3 heavy rocket, ArtilleryBadr-3 Rocket Launcher SystemRocket launcher system

Army Recognition reported an Iranian-origin Badr-3 launcher system in Gaza, and Israel Defense reported Palestinian Islamic Jihad Badr-3 launches beginning in May 2019.

Sources: Israeli Army captures Iranian Badr-3 Rocket Launcher System in Gaza, IDF Captures Badr-3 Rockets in Gaza Strip

Timeline

Badr-3 heavy rocket Key Events

  1. PIJ first unveils the Badr-3

    The Iran Primer says Palestinian Islamic Jihad first unveiled the Badr-3 in 2019, tying the rocket to a later public role in Gaza's long-range rocket arsenal.

    Sources: Iran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian Groups

  2. Used in May 2021 attacks

    The Iran Primer says PIJ used the Badr-3 in May 2021, including attacks on Ashkelon and Netivot, which underlines the rocket's destructive payload despite limited verified range.

    Sources: Iran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian Groups

  3. IDF says it recovered Badr-3 parts in northern Gaza

    The IDF said troops captured Badr-3 rocket parts at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad weapons-production post in northern Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

    Sources: IDF troops destroy major weapons production post in Gaza

Operational Notes

The public record is strongest when the Gaza Badr-3 heavy rocket is separated from adjacent Houthi Badr-family rockets and from uncertain interception imagery.

PointWhat the sources show
Design lineageIran's New Approach to Missile Proliferation and Iran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian Groups point to Iranian design work and testing rather than a purely local Gaza program.
Gaza productionBadr 3 (Rocket) METIS identifies the Badr-3 as a Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gazan-produced artillery rocket with a verified 13 km range and large warhead.
Combat useIran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian Groups says PIJ used Badr-3 rockets in May 2021 attacks on Ashkelon and Netivot.
2023 recoveryIDF troops destroy major weapons production post in Gaza says troops recovered Badr-3 rocket parts at a PIJ weapons-production post in northern Gaza in November 2023.
May 2023 imageryTWZ Badr-3 interception report described a claimed Badr-3 rocket interception during May 2023 fighting, but also said the identification could not be confirmed.

Source labels used here: Iran's New Approach to Missile Proliferation, Badr 3 (Rocket) METIS, Iran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian Groups, IDF troops destroy major weapons production post in Gaza, and TWZ Badr-3 interception report.

Related Weapon Systems
Badr-3 Rocket Launcher System, Rocket launcher system associated with the Badr-3 heavy rocket, ArtilleryArtilleryBadr-3 Rocket Launcher SystemRocket launcher system associated with the Badr-3 heavy rocketThe Badr-3 Rocket Launcher System is the launch equipment associated with the Badr-3 heavy rocket, a PIJ-linked rocket family with Iranian design and Gaza production context. Army Recognition reported an Iranian-origin launcher system uncovered by the IDF in Gaza in November 2023, while Israel Defense and IDF reporting described captured Badr-3 rockets or parts at a Palestinian Islamic Jihad post during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
Iron Dome air-defense system, Mobile short-range air-defense system, Air DefenseAir DefenseIron Dome air-defense systemMobile short-range air-defense systemIron Dome is an Israeli mobile short-range air-defense system built by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries to detect, track, and intercept rockets, artillery threats, and some UAVs before they hit populated areas. Known in Hebrew as Kippat Barzel, it became operational in 2011 and has documented combat use from the 2012 Gaza-Israel Conflict through later Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran-related fighting, including the April 2024 Iran-Israel exchange.

Sources

Iran's New Approach to Missile ProliferationPublisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies | Note: Documents Iran's role in the Badr-3 development, including motor and flight testing inside Iran, and explains why the system appears designed for proxy production rather than a complex national rocket program. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iran Transfers Rockets to Palestinian GroupsPublisher: The Iran Primer | Note: 2021 Israel-Palestine Crisis: documents Palestinian Islamic Jihad use of Badr-3 rockets in May 2021 attacks on Ashkelon and Netivot; also supports the rocket's 2019 unveiling, heavy-warhead context, and Iranian design/local-production framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Badr 3 (Rocket) METISPublisher: Fenix Insight / METIS | Note: Supports the Badr-3's Gaza-production context, PIJ association, 13 km verified range, 250-400 kg warhead range, nose-fuzed configuration, and clipped-delta tail fins. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IDF troops destroy major weapons production post in GazaPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: In the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, IDF troops captured Badr-3 rocket parts at a PIJ weapons-production post in northern Gaza, which the IDF said was used for weapon production intended to attack Israeli civilians. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Israeli Army captures Iranian Badr-3 Rocket Launcher System in GazaPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Reports an Iranian-origin Badr-3 launcher system uncovered by the IDF in Gaza and the associated launch-system context for the Badr-3 family. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IDF Captures Badr-3 Rockets in Gaza StripPublisher: Israel Defense | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War: reports IDF claims that forces captured long-range Badr-3 rockets at a PIJ post in Gaza; also provides launch-history context for PIJ Badr-3 use since May 2019. | Accessed: 2026-07-01TWZ Badr-3 interception reportPublisher: TWZ | Note: Background source for a May 2023 reported Badr-3 rocket interception claim; TWZ explicitly caveated that the Badr-3 identification was claimed but unconfirmed. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IDF soldiers near Badr-3 rockets at outpost in northern GazaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the IDF Spokesperson's Unit photo of recovered Badr-3 rockets in northern Gaza; licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-01