Air Defense

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites

Also known as
  • Ghadir radar
  • Ghadir phased-array radar
  • Qadir radar
  • Qadir phased-array radar system
  • Ghadir OTH radar
  • Iranian coastal radar sites

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites cover fixed early-warning and maritime-monitoring radars used around the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and wider Iranian air-defense network. Public sources identify Ghadir/Qadir as a reported HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array radar family, while CENTCOM's 2026 strike releases identify coastal radar sites at Goruk, Qeshm Island, and later Iranian coastal locations without publicly naming every radar model.

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array early-warning and coastal surveillance radar, Air Defense
Image source: Entry into service of Ghadir early warning radar (11).jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Iran
Type
HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array early-warning and coastal surveillance radar
Service note
2011-present
Designer
Iranian defense industry
Designed
2011
Produced
2011-present
Number built
13 Ghadir HF OTH systems assessed in service by Armada/MAIAR as of 2025

Specifications

Radar type
Reported HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array early-warning radar
Range
Up to 1,100 km reported; 2015 Iranian reporting separately claimed 600 km aircraft detection
Altitude coverage
Up to 300 km reported in 2011/2014 sources; 2015 Mehr described ballistic-missile detection at up to 100 km altitude
Targets
Radar-evading aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and low-orbit satellites
Coverage
Iranian air-defense network and coastal monitoring around the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz
Variants
  • Ghadir-type radar
Timeline

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites Key Events

  1. First public test during Great Prophet 6

    Mehr reported that the domestically manufactured Ghadir radar was tested for the first time to detect missiles fired during the Great Prophet Muhammad 6 exercise.

    Sources: Qadir radar system tested for first time

  2. First radar unveiled and put into service at Garmsar

    Mehr later said the first Ghadir radar was unveiled in June 2014 and put into service at the Garmsar radar site in Semnan province.

    Sources: Iran deploys cutting-edge Ghadir radar system

  3. Second radar enters service in Ahvaz

    Mehr said the second Ghadir radar had completed six months of tests before being deployed to Iran's air defense network in Ahvaz; the same report said a third unit had already finished construction.

    Sources: Iran deploys cutting-edge Ghadir radar system

  4. Satellite imagery shows Ghadir radar strike damage

    Critical Threats and ISW reported that commercially available satellite imagery showed Israeli strikes had hit at least six Iranian Ghadir radars since June 12.

    Sources: Iran Special Report: Strikes on Iran, June 19, 2025

  5. U.S. strikes Goruk and Qeshm Island radar sites

    CENTCOM reported that U.S. forces struck Iranian radar sites at Goruk and Qeshm Island after Iran launched drones toward the Strait of Hormuz.

    Sources: CENTCOM Forces Defeat Missiles, Drones Launched by Iran

  6. CENTCOM reports another strike wave against coastal radar sites

    CENTCOM said a new wave of U.S. strikes hit Iranian coastal radar sites along with air-defense systems, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats.

    Sources: CENTCOM Completes Another Wave of Strikes Against Iran

Deployment Footprint

Public reporting separates named Ghadir/Qadir early-warning deployments from later CENTCOM coastal-radar strike claims, which do not publicly identify every radar model at the struck sites.

LocationContextSource-backed detail
Garmsar, Semnan provinceInitial Ghadir deploymentMehr said the first Ghadir radar was unveiled in June 2014 and put into service at the Garmsar radar site.
Ahvaz, Khuzestan provinceSecond Ghadir systemMehr said the second Ghadir radar was officially put into service after six months of tests.
Goruk and Qeshm IslandCoastal radar sitesCENTCOM reported U.S. strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites at both locations after Iran launched drones toward the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian coastal sites2026 Iran War strikesCENTCOM said its July 12, 2026 strike wave hit coastal radar sites as part of a broader target set tied to Strait of Hormuz shipping threats.

Sources: Iran deploys cutting-edge Ghadir radar system; CENTCOM Forces Defeat Missiles, Drones Launched by Iran; CENTCOM Completes Another Wave of Strikes Against Iran.

Media

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites Images

Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array early-warning and coastal surveillance radar, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Unveiling of Ghadir early warning radar (2014) (07).jpg
Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, HF over-the-horizon 3D phased-array early-warning and coastal surveillance radar, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Unveiling of Ghadir early warning radar (2014) (20).jpg
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Sources

Iran Deploys Radar Systems for Potential US StrikePublisher: Newsweek | Note: Supports the Ghadir network's Iranian origin, early-warning role, HF over-the-horizon description, long-range detection mission, and service context near the Persian Gulf. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Qadir radar system tested for first timePublisher: Tehran Times / Mehr News Agency | Note: Supports the first public test in 2011, the Great Prophet 6 exercise context, the reported 1,100 km range and 300 km altitude, and the radar-evading aircraft / missile / low-orbit satellite target set. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Iran Unveils New Phased Array RadarPublisher: Al Defaiya / Fars News Agency | Note: Supports the Qadir phased-array designation, 2014 unveiling context, reported 1,100 km distance and 300 km altitude, and target set. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Iran deploys cutting-edge Ghadir radar systemPublisher: Mehr News Agency | Note: Supports the June 2014 unveiling at Garmsar, the 2015 deployment of a second radar in Ahvaz, the 3D long-range phased-array description, the target set, and the reported one-fifth cost claim. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Going Blind: The Systematic Takedown of Iran's Early Warning NetworkPublisher: Armada International | Note: Supports Ghadir early-warning network specifications, the 13-system estimate, and the early-warning coverage role across Iran. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Iran Special Report: Strikes on Iran, June 19, 2025Publisher: Critical Threats Project / Institute for the Study of War | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use: commercially available satellite imagery showed Iranian Ghadir radars fielded in Iran and struck by Israeli forces during the June 2025 conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-13CENTCOM Forces Defeat Missiles, Drones Launched by IranPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct use: Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites were fielded by Iranian forces at Goruk and Qeshm Island before U.S. forces struck them after Iran launched drones toward the Strait of Hormuz. | Accessed: 2026-07-13US strikes Iran radar sites after Iranian drone launchPublisher: Reuters / Internazionale | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct use: Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites were fielded by Iranian forces at Goruk and Qeshm Island before U.S. strikes after Iran launched drones toward the Strait of Hormuz. | Accessed: 2026-07-13CENTCOM Completes Another Wave of Strikes Against IranPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports 2026 Iran War direct use: Iranian coastal radar sites were fielded by Iranian forces and struck by U.S. forces during the July 12, 2026 Strait of Hormuz strike wave. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Entry into service of Ghadir early warning radar (11).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the primary Ghadir radar image. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Unveiling of Ghadir early warning radar (2014) (07).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for a secondary Ghadir radar image. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Unveiling of Ghadir early warning radar (2014) (20).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for a third Ghadir radar image. | Accessed: 2026-07-13