Sevom 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.
In the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict catalog, Third Khordad is tied to the June 2019 prelude escalation by the confirmed Iranian shootdown of a U.S. Navy BAMS-D/RQ-4A Global Hawk near the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. and Iranian accounts disputed the aircraft's location. Later reporting on Iran's April 2026 F-15E shootdown claim also identified Third Khordad as a possible Iranian surface-to-air system involved, but the exact launcher was not independently confirmed.
Sevom Khordad is best understood as a mobile air-defense battery rather than a single launcher truck. Public reporting separates the self-contained TELAR, radarless TEL launchers, Bashir search radar, and later interceptor fits.
A TELAR combines launcher rails and fire-control radar, allowing the vehicle to operate independently or coordinate radarless launchers.
Reported battalion descriptions add Bashir search radar and command control around four TELARs and eight TELs.
Sources describe a progression from Taer-2-class missiles to Sayyad-family, 9 Dey, and claimed long-range Taer-3/3rd Khordad fits.
Sevom Khordad configuration names describe launcher, radar, and interceptor fits inside the same Iranian medium-range air-defense family.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| TELAR | Self-contained launcher/radar vehicle | The standard launcher/radar vehicle carries three ready missiles and includes the fire-control radar needed for autonomous engagements. Sources: DefaPress: Evolution of the 3rd Khordad system, Press TV: Eqtedar 1403 air-defense drills |
| TEL | Radarless launcher vehicle | Iranian reporting describes a radarless launcher paired with TELAR vehicles, with two TELs coordinated by each TELAR in a battery. |
| Bashir 110 battalion configuration | Battalion search and command architecture | The reported battalion layout combines a Bashir 110 search radar, command control, four TELAR vehicles, and eight TEL vehicles. Sources: DefaPress: Evolution of the 3rd Khordad system, Washington Institute: Major Iranian Air Defense Missile Systems, 2023 |
| 9 Dey box-launch configuration | Short-range missile fit | The TELAR can reportedly carry eight 9 Dey short-range missiles instead of the usual three medium-range interceptors for lower-altitude targets. |
| Taer-3 / long-range missile configuration | Long-range interceptor fit | Iranian and specialist reporting describe a later long-range missile fit with claimed reach up to 200 km, but public sources should be treated as claimed-performance reporting. Sources: ISW News: Military Knowledge: Sevom Khordad Air Defense System, Washington Institute: Major Iranian Air Defense Missile Systems, 2023 |
Leader.ir reported the unveiling of the domestically designed 3rd Khordad air-defense system at an IRGC Aerospace Force exhibition, with a 50 km range and four-target/eight-missile claim.
Sources: Leader.ir: IRGC Aerospace Force achievements exhibition
Reporting on the U.S. Navy BAMS-D/RQ-4A loss identified Third Khordad as the Iranian system used in the Strait of Hormuz shootdown.
Sources: Seapower: Global Hawk downed by Third of Khordad, U.S. Navy: CENTCOM statement on Iranian drone shootdown
Army Recognition reported Iranian imagery of a 3rd Khordad system on the IRGC Shahid Siavoshi vessel, described as able to lock and fire while the vessel was moving.
Sources: Army Recognition: Naval 3rd Khordad test
Specialist reporting described a later long-range missile for the Sevom Khordad family shown during Iran's September 2022 armed forces parade.
Sources: ISW News: Military Knowledge: Sevom Khordad Air Defense System, Washington Institute: Major Iranian Air Defense Missile Systems, 2023
Press TV reported 3 Khordad participation in Eqtedar 1403 air-defense drills alongside Taer-2, Sayyad-2, and 9 Dey missile testing.
Sources: Press TV: Eqtedar 1403 air-defense drills
