All major military powers of the world reserve some form of rocket-projecting vehicle in inventory for long-range, area-denial actions. These weapons are prolific in their ability to cover large swathes of terrain with explosive, anti-infantry, chemical or biological warheads / payloads. While some forms are towed by mover vehicles, many more modern approaches center on self-propelled models and many in the East rely on proven Soviet-era design influence - such as the "Fajr-3" ("Dawn-3") of the Iranian Army.
The vehicle was developed in or around 1990 and is believed to have entered service with Iran in 1996, having since been exported to Iran-aligned fighters of Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria. Iran had already managed extensive use of mobile rocket-projecting vehicles during its 1980s war with neighboring Iran. The Fajr-3 has been progressively improved and updated as the years has gone by. Most of its production has been handled by Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBI).
The Fajr-3 is classified as a Multiple-Launch, Rocket System (MLRS) and is based on a 6x6, three-axled military truck. The rocket-launching pack is seated over the rear of the flatbed portion of the vehicle while the driving / crew cab is set over the first steerable axle. Road speeds of the vehicle reach 60 kmh on prepared roads and 25 kmh off-road.
The Iranian Fajr-3 is a locally-produced MLRS though it is based on a modified form of the original M1985 (Model 1985) produced by North Korea.
The M1985 is a modernized version of the M1977 which is based on the Soviet BM-21 "Grad" / "Katyusha" (detailed elsewhere on this site). It fires 40 x Rockets of 122mm caliber from an Isuzu 6x6 truck. The Iranian models differs primarily in its use of 20 x 240mm rockets and the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz Model 2624/2631 heavy-duty truck.
The 240mm solid-fueled rocket is over 5 meters in length and can range out to 43 kilometers. Each instance in held in its own launch tube in two packs of six rockets each (for a total of twelve) and carries a High-Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead of considerable lethality - perfect for use against soft-skinned targets such as dug-in infantry.
The launcher portion has an elevation span of 0 to 57-degrees and can train 90 degrees to the left and 100 degrees to the right of centerline. Rate-of-fire is twelve rounds per forty-eight seconds.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Specifications
Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBI) Manufacturer(s)
FIRE SUPPORT / ASSAULT / BREACHING
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.
34.3 ft (10.45 meters) Length
8.4 ft (2.55 meters) Width
11.0 ft (3.35 meters) Height
33,069 lb (15,000 kg) Weight
16.5 tons (Light-class) Tonnage
1 x Mercedes-Benz diesel truck engine driving power to a 6x6 wheeled arrangement. Drive System
37 mph (60 kph) Road Speed
12 x 240mm High-Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) battlefield rockets (in two packs of six rockets each).
AMMUNITION
Dependent upon accompanying ammunition supplies.
Fajr-3 - Base Series Name; utilized by the Iranian military including the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces and the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Images
1 / 1
Image from the Tasnim News Agency; pictured is an Iranian version followed by a North Korean model.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.