Iranian anti-aircraft artillery is an aggregate category for gun-based air-defense systems in Iranian service, including ZU-23-2 and Mesbah 23 mm weapons, Oerlikon-derived 35 mm Samavat guns, and older heavy-caliber systems. The record is most directly documented in the 1988 Tanker War phase of the 1980 Iran-Iraq War, where a Sassan platform 23 mm gun mount engaged U.S. forces, and in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict, where ZU-23-2-type guns appeared as low-altitude point-defense threats and strike targets.
Iranian gun-based air defenses, including ZU-23-2-type autocannons, appeared in Operation Epic Fury reporting as short-range threats and strike targets; separate reporting described Iran-backed PMF fighters attempting to use a ZU-23-2 against a U.S. A-10 in Iraq.
During Operation Praying Mantis on 1988-04-18, Iranian personnel on the Sassan oil platform manned and fired a 23 mm gun mount before U.S. naval gunfire silenced it; USNI context places the action inside the maritime Tanker War phase of the 1980 Iran-Iraq War.
Iranian gun-based air defense mixes imported Cold War weapons, pre-revolution Western 35 mm equipment, and Iranian production or modernization efforts. The table separates the main catalog-linked families from Iranian local adaptation names.
| Family | Iranian context | Documented role |
|---|---|---|
 | Common Soviet/Russian-lineage 23 mm twin gun; Iran is listed among users and Operation Praying Mantis evidence places a 23 mm gun on the Sassan platform. | Close point defense against low aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and light ground targets. |
| Mesbah 1 | Iranian low-altitude gun system announced in 2010 with radar and optical guidance. | Short-range defense against fighters, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs, and other low-altitude objects. |
 | Iranian Samavat is described as a local twin 35 mm system based on the GDF-001/GDF-002 lineage. | Radar-directed point defense of air bases, nuclear sites, and other strategic facilities. |
 | DIA describes IRGC Ground Force air-defense groups as mainly using Soviet-origin mobile antiaircraft artillery. | Mobile short-range air defense accompanying ground-force formations. |
This aggregate entry groups Iranian gun-based air defenses by source gun family and Iranian adaptation rather than one single model lineage.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Towed twin 23 mm gun family | Army Recognition lists Iran among ZU-23-2 users and describes the system as a short-range twin 23 mm anti-aircraft gun for low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and ground targets. Sources: ZU-23-2 Technical Data |
| Iranian Oerlikon GDF-derived 35 mm gun | Army Recognition describes Samavat as an Iranian-manufactured twin 35 mm system based on the Oerlikon GDF-001/GDF-002 lineage and coupled with Skyguard-derived radar and fire-control equipment. Sources: Samavat 35mm Air Defense |
| Self-propelled gun lineage in Iranian holdings | DIA describes IRGC Ground Force air-defense groups as mainly using Soviet-origin mobile antiaircraft artillery, which fits the older tracked gun family represented in the catalog by the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Sources: Iran Military Power |
USNI Proceedings described Iranian personnel manning a 23 mm gun on the Sassan oil platform and the gun opening fire before U.S. naval gunfire silenced it.
Sources: USNI Praying Mantis Surface View, USNI Tanker War
KUNA reported the inauguration of an Iranian 35 mm anti-aircraft gun production line, while Army Recognition identifies Samavat as the Iranian Oerlikon GDF-derived 35 mm system.
Sources: KUNA Samavat Production, Samavat 35mm Air Defense
Mehr reported that the Defense Ministry opened a Mesbah 1 production line and described radar, optical guidance, UAV engagement, and low-altitude target roles.
Sources: Mehr Mesbah 1 Production
The Aviationist reported that CENTCOM strike videos from March 15-16, 2026 showed Iranian air-defense targets including a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft autocannon.
Sources: Aviationist Epic Fury SEAD Report
