Air Defense

Khordad-15 air-defense system

Also known as
  • Khordad 15
  • 15 Khordad
  • 15th Khordad
  • 15 Khordad air-defense system
  • Joshan
  • Jowshan

Khordad-15 is Iran's road-mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile system, unveiled in 2019 as part of the Islamic Republic's domestic air-defense layer. Source coverage describes a truck-mounted launcher paired with phased-array radar and Sayyad-family missiles, while 2026 reporting identified likely Khordad-15 launchers among Iranian SAM systems struck during the U.S. and Israeli anti-air-defense campaign.

Khordad-15 air-defense system, Medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: 7-15 Khordad air missile system

Role in Conflicts

2020 United States-Iran Conflict
Side
Iran
Role in conflict
Medium-range air defense

During the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict, RFE/RL reported on the April 2026 U.S. F-15E shootdown claim and cited analysts describing Khordad-15 as part of Iran's layered air-defense network; the source did not independently identify Khordad-15 as the launcher used.

2026 Iran War
Side
Iran
Role in conflict
Mobile surface-to-air missile asset under strike

FPRI's April 2026 analysis of the U.S. and Israeli anti-air-defense campaign said the most advanced Iranian SAM systems shown being destroyed were likely Khordad-15 launchers, with two videos showing drone laser designation before guided-munition impacts.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Iran
Type
Medium-range surface-to-air missile system
Service note
2019-present
Designer
Iran Aviation Industries Organization
Designed
2019
Produced
2019-present

Specifications

Launcher type
Road-mobile truck-mounted TEL
Missile
Sayyad-2 and Sayyad-3 family surface-to-air missiles reported
Radar
Phased-array radar; Najm 804 cited for the TEL/radar model set
Detection range
Reported up to 150 km against fighters and drones
Engagement range
Reported up to 120 km against fighters and 45 km against stealth targets
Stealth detection range
Reported up to 85 km against stealth targets
Simultaneous engagements
Up to six targets claimed
System Layout

Khordad-15 is best read as a road-mobile battery component set rather than a stand-alone missile. Public references describe a launcher vehicle, a radar element, and Sayyad-family interceptors working inside Iran's layered air-defense network.

ElementFunctionSource-backed notes
Truck-mounted launcherMissile firing vehicleCSIS and The National Interest describe a mobile launcher paired with Sayyad-family surface-to-air missiles.
Phased-array radarDetection and engagement supportCSIS reported a new phased-array radar, while MVRsimulation identifies the associated TEL and Najm 804 radar vehicle set used for its model data.
Joshan / Jowshan derivativePassive-radar variant pathIRNA reported Joshan as an upgraded Khordad-15 version using passive radar and test-fired during the Modafean Aseman Velayat 1400 drill.
Variants

Open sources use Khordad-15 for the base launcher and radar system, while Iranian reporting describes Joshan or Jowshan as an upgraded Khordad-15 derivative using passive radar.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Joshan / JowshanPassive-radar derivative

IRNA reported Joshan as an upgraded version of Khordad-15 using passive radar and first test-fired during the Modafean Aseman Velayat 1400 drill.

Sources: IRNA: Iran successfully test-fires Joshan, Khatam air defense systems, Washington Institute: Iran Air Defense Systems Table

Timeline

Khordad-15 air-defense system Key Events

  1. Khordad-15 unveiled

    Iran's Defense Ministry publicly displayed the Khordad-15 system, with CSIS describing a new phased-array radar and Sayyad-3 missile pairing.

  2. Joshan passive-radar derivative test-fired

    IRNA reported the first test firing of Joshan during a major air-defense drill and identified it as an upgraded Khordad-15 version using passive radar.

  3. Likely Khordad-15 launchers documented under attack

    FPRI's analysis of the 2026 anti-air-defense campaign identified likely Khordad-15 launchers in videos showing drone laser designation and guided-munition strikes.

Media

Khordad-15 air-defense system Images

Khordad-15 air-defense system, Medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: 5-15 Khordad air missile system
Related Weapon Systems
Sevom Khordad / 3rd Khordad air-defense system, Medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseSevom Khordad / 3rd Khordad air-defense systemMedium-range surface-to-air missile systemSevom Khordad, also known as 3rd Khordad, is an Iranian road-mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile system built around a self-contained TELAR and phased-array radar. Its best-documented combat use is the June 2019 shootdown of a U.S. Navy BAMS-D/RQ-4A Global Hawk near the Strait of Hormuz; later 2026 reporting identified Third Khordad as a possible system in an F-15E shootdown claim, but that launcher attribution remained less certain.
Bavar-373 air-defense system, Long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseBavar-373 air-defense systemLong-range surface-to-air missile systemBavar-373 is Iran's road-mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system, developed by the Aerospace Industries Organization after the S-300 procurement gap and fielded in 2019. Iranian sources later advertised Sayyad-4B and Bavar-373-II upgrades with longer claimed reach, while 2025-2026 conflict reporting treated the system as part of Iran's high-end air-defense layer under Israeli and U.S. suppression pressure rather than a publicly confirmed source of intercept kills.
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Sources

The National Interest: Iran's Khordad-15 Air Defense System Won't Save It from AmericaPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports the Khordad-15 background, IAIO development background, road-mobile truck-mounted layout, Sayyad-3 missiles, and phased-array radar description. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Reuters Facebook post: Iran says new air defence system used to target US fighter jetPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports the broader 2020 United States-Iran Conflict incident context: Reuters reported Iran's claim that a new air-defence system was used by Iranian forces to target a U.S. fighter jet, but the post does not independently identify Khordad-15. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RFE/RL: Iran Claims To Down US F-15E With New Air Defense SystemPublisher: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | Note: Supports the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct-use context: Khordad-15 was fielded by Iran as part of the layered air-defense network described during the April 2026 F-15E shootdown claim. | Accessed: 2026-06-20CSIS: Iran Displays New Khordad 15 Missile Defense SystemPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports the June 2019 unveiling, the phased-array radar claim, and the reported strike-range description for Khordad-15. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Times of Israel: Iran unveils new advanced missile defense systemPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports the reported detection, engagement, and six-target claims for Khordad-15, as well as the U.S.-tension context around the unveiling. | Accessed: 2026-06-20IRNA: Iran successfully test-fires Joshan, Khatam air defense systemsPublisher: Islamic Republic News Agency | Note: Supports Joshan as an upgraded Khordad-15 version using passive radar and the October 2021 drill/test-fire context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Washington Institute: Iran Air Defense Systems TablePublisher: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Note: Supports the Joshan/Jowshan designation context and the Khordad-15 family comparison table. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MVRsimulation: Khordad 15 Air Defense System Featured ModelPublisher: MVRsimulation | Note: Supports the TEL and Najm 804 radar vehicle identification used in the system-layout notes. | Accessed: 2026-06-29FPRI: UAV-Enabled Anti-Air Defense Campaign in the Third 1990 Gulf WarPublisher: Foreign Policy Research Institute | Note: 2026 Iran War: supports direct conflict-use context by identifying likely Khordad-15 launchers among Iranian SAM systems shown being destroyed in drone-cued guided-munition strikes; also supports the Sayyad-2/Sayyad-3 missile-family note. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Wikimedia Commons: 7-15 Khordad air missile systemPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image and image provenance for a Khordad-15 launcher photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Wikimedia Commons: 5-15 Khordad air missile systemPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the gallery image and provenance for another Khordad-15 launcher view. | Accessed: 2026-06-20