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Iran's defense forces continue to strengthen their air defense capabilities with the introduction of the new 9-Dey anti-aircraft missile system. This short-range air defense system is designed to counter low-flying threats such as cruise missiles, drones, fighter jets, helicopters and munitions dropped from enemy aircraft, making it an important addition to Iran's military arsenal.
Unveiled on May 21, 2021, the 9-Dey system is a major milestone for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which created the system as part of Iran's broader initiative to modernize its military forces. The discovery underscored Iran's commitment to developing its national military capabilities.
The combat capabilities of the "9-Day" system were first demonstrated at the "Defenders of the Sky Velayat 2023" exercise, which took place from November 5 to 7, 2023. During these exercises, the system successfully intercepted and destroyed several targets.
Technically, the 9-Dey is a short-range anti-aircraft missile system optimized for hitting low-flying targets. It has an effective range of 5 to 30 kilometers, which allows it to engage a wide range of threats from different distances and heights. Its radar systems are reportedly capable of detecting and engaging multiple aerial threats simultaneously, providing reliable early warning and interception capabilities. Integrating the system with existing defense systems, such as the Khordad-15, provides a multi-layered defense strategy that increases the overall resilience and effectiveness of Iran's air defense network. This air defense system is based on the same 6x6 military truck chassis as the Sevom Khordad, Iran's long-range road-mobile high-altitude defense system.
The 9-Dey system differs significantly from the Sevom Khordad in the configuration of the missile launcher. While the Sevom Khordad has a group of three missiles ready to fire, the 9-Dey uses a unique design consisting of two units, each equipped with four missile containers. Thus, a total of eight missiles are ready for deployment, which provides increased firepower and the ability for long-term operations. In addition, the 9-Dey system integrates an S-band detection radar mounted in the front of the missile weapon station, which improves its target detection and engagement capabilities. This configuration improves the system's ability to respond quickly and effectively to a variety of air threats.
A key feature of the 9-Dey mobile air defense system is the use of the same radar technology as the Sevom Khordad, which is mounted in the front of the vehicle. The Sevom Khordad air defense system, a critical component of Iran's integrated air defense network, has a sophisticated S-band phased array radar mounted in the front of the vehicle. This radar is specifically designed to detect and track targets, providing critical data for missile guidance against a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones and missiles.
Operating in the frequency range from 2 to 4 GHz, the S-band radar provides a detection range of up to 150 kilometers and is capable of simultaneously tracking multiple targets. This capability is critical to the system's effectiveness in hitting targets at medium to long ranges and at high altitudes. The radar's phased array technology allows for electronic beam control, increasing the speed and accuracy of target detection, as well as the ability to resist electronic jamming and countermeasures.
The 9-Dey system differs significantly from the Sevom Khordad in the configuration of the missile launcher. While the Sevom Khordad has a group of three missiles ready to fire, the 9-Dey uses a unique design consisting of two units, each equipped with four container missiles. Thus, a total of eight missiles are ready for deployment, which provides increased firepower and the ability for long-term operations. In addition, the 9-Dey system integrates an S-band detection radar mounted in the front of the missile weapon station, which improves its target detection and engagement capabilities.
The 9-Dey system has a 6×6 chassis. This chassis is a copy of the locally produced MZKT-6922, which was used in the production of the Russian Buk-M2E missile system. By adopting this chassis, Iran emphasizes modularity and mobility, allowing for rapid deployment and operation in different territories.
The Iranian version of the 9-Dey system is significantly different from the Belarusian MZKT-6922 model. The Iranian truck is shorter, the engine is mounted in the front, not the rear, as seen in the Belarusian design. This configuration provides lateral access to electronic systems, with different numbers and shape of doors compared to the Belarusian counterpart. In addition, the Iranian model has an increased height and two hydraulic jacks between the axles of the truck to increase stability during firing, indicating improved off-road capability.
The mobility of the system is additionally increased by the decision to install the radar and launchers on one mobile platform. This allows the 9-Dey to be moved quickly as needed, making it an ideal solution for protecting critical infrastructure and responding to emerging threats. The chassis design provides the necessary strength and maneuverability to overcome difficult terrain, ensuring the 9-Dey works effectively in a variety of environments.
