IRGC Navy tests Sayyad-3G air defense missile in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has successfully launched the Sayyad-3G naval air defense missile for the first time during the “Smart Control” exercises in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to footage released during the drills on Saturday, the missile was fired from the vessel Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, marking the system’s operational debut at sea.

The Sayyad-3G is the naval variant of Iran’s Sayyad-3 air defense missile and features a vertical launch system with a reported range of 150 kilometers (93 miles).

Iranian officials said the missile offers medium-to-long-range air defense coverage and facilitates the establishment of a regional air defense umbrella for vessels of the Shahid Soleimani class. 

Authorities stated that the system is capable of independently detecting and engaging aerial threats, while also being integrated into a broader command-and-control network. This dual capability, they said, enhances the survivability of naval units against a range of air threats.

IRGC Navy holds 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz' military drills

The IRGC Naval forces start combined live-fire intensive drills in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

With a declared 150-kilometer range, the Sayyad-3G is designed to intercept and destroy various airborne targets, including fighter jets, high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, support aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, and cruise missiles. Iranian officials described the missile as adding long-range defensive capacity to the country’s naval operations.

The Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy transit chokepoints—was the location of the three-day “Smart Control” drills, which began on February 16. Military analysts note that establishing extended air defense coverage in such a strategically sensitive waterway significantly increases the defensive depth of deployed naval forces.

Iran first tested the land-based Sayyad-3 air defense missile on December 28, 2016. The land version reportedly has a range of 120 kilometers, a length of six meters, and a weight of approximately 900 kilograms. The newly tested Sayyad-3G represents the maritime adaptation of that system, incorporating vertical launch capability suited for naval platforms.

IRGC Navy holds drills in Strait of Hormuz for second day

The naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is conducting the second day of its naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest test underscores Tehran’s continued efforts to enhance its integrated air and missile defense architecture, particularly in strategically vital maritime zones.

The IRGC naval forces started military drills off the country’s southern coast on Monday, practicing smart control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The drills come amid heightened regional tensions and repeated US threats to attack Iran if it does not accept its nuclear demands, among others.

The United States has dispatched warships to regional waters near Iran, prompting authorities in Tehran to warn that even a single shot fired at the country would be met with a massive response targeting US assets in the region.

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