Profile
- Type
- 23 mm anti-aircraft gun system
- Conflict side
- Iran
- Origin
- Iran
- Service note
- Contemporary Iranian air defense; unveiled in 2010
Air Defense
Mesbah 1
Mesbah 1 is an Iranian short-range anti-aircraft gun system built around 23 mm autocannons, radar, and optical guidance for low-altitude threats. Open reporting describes it as part of Iran's gun-based air-defense layer against cruise missiles, helicopters, and drones, with production starting in 2010.
- Conflict side
- Iran
- Built by
- Defense Industries Organization
- Built in
- Iran
Service History
- In service
- Iran announced production in 2010 and has presented the system as part of its short-range air-defense network.
- Used by
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force
- Wars
- United States-Iran Conflict
Production History
- Designer
- Defense Industries Organization
- Designed
- Late 2000s
- Built by
- Defense Industries Organization
- Built in
- Iran
- Produced
- 2010 to present
Specifications
- Caliber
- 23 mm
- Armament
- 23 mm autocannon battery
- Rate of Fire
- 4,000 rounds per minute
- Sensors
- Three-dimensional interception radar and optical guidance system
Conflict Usage
- United States-Iran Conflict
- Side: IranRole: Gun-based point air defense
In the United States-Iran Conflict, Iran fielded Mesbah 1 as a gun-based cruise-missile defense layer built around 23 mm autocannons.
Mesbah 1 Images
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Iran starts mass production of Mesbah 1 air defense systemPublisher: Mehr News Agency | Note: Supports Mesbah 1 background, 2010 production start, low-altitude target role, 4,000 rounds per minute claim, and radar/optical guidance. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Iran tests anti-cruise Tor-M1 air defense missile system Iranian army UKPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports Mesbah 1 as an Iranian air-defense gun system for airplanes, cruise missiles, helicopters, and other low-altitude threats. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Category:Mesbah-1Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports Mesbah 1 origin and manufacturer metadata identifying Iran and the Defense Industries Organization. | Accessed: 2026-06-20The UAV-Enabled Anti-Air Defense Campaign in the Third Gulf WarPublisher: Foreign Policy Research Institute | Note: United States-Iran Conflict: fielded by Iran as a gun-based cruise-missile defense layer. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Mesbah 1.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing details for the Mesbah 1 file page on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Inauguration of Mesbah-1 production line (07).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing details for a Mesbah-1 production-line photograph on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Inauguration of Mesbah-1 production line (11).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing details for a Mesbah-1 production-line photograph on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-20