Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile

Also known as

Kosar

The Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile is an Iranian short-range anti-ship missile family built by the Aerospace Industries Organization and associated with the C-701/TL-10 lineage. Public reporting describes Kowsar variants with TV or active-radar seekers, land-ship-air launch options, and carriage on IRGC Navy Ashura-class boats.

Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile, Anti-ship cruise missile family, Munitions

Image source: Wikimedia Commons Great Prophet I (05).jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Iran
Built by: Aerospace Industries OrganizationIranian defense industry
Type: Anti-ship cruise missile family
Service note: 2000s-present
Designer: Aerospace Industries Organization
Designed: Early 2000s
Produced: 2004-present
Developed from: Chinese C-701 / TL-10 family

naval maritime strike anti-ship missile cruise missile precision fires

Specifications

Length: About 2.5 m to 2.69 m depending on seeker variant
Launch weight: About 105 kg to 117 kg depending on seeker variant
Range: About 15 km to 25 km in public references
Warhead: 29 kg HE/SAP warhead in public references
Guidance: TV or active-radar seeker with inertial mid-course guidance in public references
Launch platforms: Land, ship, and air launch roles are described in public references

Variants

Kowsar-1
Kowsar-2
Kowsar-3

Carried By Boats

Tasnim reports Ashura-class boats entered service armed with Kowsar missiles.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

Ashura-class speedboat, Fast patrol boat / fast inshore attack craft, Naval Systems

Ashura-class speedboat

Fast patrol boat / fast inshore attack craft

Tasnim says Ashura-class boats were armed with Kowsar missiles.

Sources: Tasnim IRGC Navy speedboats report

Timeline

Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile Key Events

Jan 1, 2004
Iran says the missile is being built
MODAFL spokesman Mohammad Reza Imani told AP that Iran was building the Kosar missile and that the system was being developed by the Aerospace Industries Organization.
Sources: Kosar / Nasr
Jan 1, 2005
Kowsar enters Iranian service
GlobalSecurity says Kowsar entered service in Iran in 2005 and that early missiles were assembled and tested from Chinese-supplied subassemblies.
Sources: Kosar / Nasr
Jan 1, 2006
Boat and truck variants are tested
GlobalSecurity reports Kosar missiles fitted to Peykaap II patrol craft were test-fired during 2006 exercises and that a shore-mounted truck variant was also tested.
Sources: Kosar / Nasr
Jan 6, 2024
Ashura-class carriage is reported
Tasnim says the IRGC Navy armed Ashura-class boats with Kowsar missiles during the January 2024 delivery ceremony.
Sources: Tasnim IRGC Navy speedboats report

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Used in Iranian coastal-defense, ship-launch, and air-launch roles; Tasnim reports Ashura-class boats armed with Kowsar missiles.

Media

Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile Images

Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile, Anti-ship cruise missile family, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Wikimedia Commons Great Prophet I (07).jpg

Kowsar cruise anti-ship missile, Anti-ship cruise missile family, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Wikimedia Commons Defense Industries Organization tour (42).jpg

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Sources

Kosar / NasrPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports Kowsar background, origin from the C-701/TL-10 family, service history, launch platforms, seeker types, and public dimensions and range figures. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Iran Press Kowsar missile articlePublisher: Iran Press | Note: Supports Kowsar manufacturer context, roles against sea and air targets, and public descriptions of seeker and variant differences. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Tasnim IRGC Navy speedboats reportPublisher: Tasnim News Agency | Note: Supports the Ashura-class boat carriage of Kowsar missiles in IRGC Navy service reporting. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Wikimedia Commons Great Prophet I (05).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the Kowsar missile photo from Great Prophet I exercises. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Wikimedia Commons Great Prophet I (07).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for an alternate Kowsar missile photo from Great Prophet I exercises. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Wikimedia Commons Defense Industries Organization tour (42).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a Kowsar missile image from a Defense Industries Organization tour photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-27