The Noor (Persian: نور) is a long-range anti-ship cruise missile manufactured by Iran. The missile is in primary service with the Iranian Navy. The missile is a reverse engineered Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile.[1]

Noor
TypeAnti-ship cruise missile
Service history
Used byIran
Syria
Production history
ManufacturerIran
Specifications
Warheadhigh-explosive fragmentation

Engineturbojet engine
Operational
range
30-220km depending on the model
Flight altitudeSea-skimming
Maximum speed Mach 0.9 (cruise)
Mach 1.4 (terminal)
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation/active radar homing terminal guidance
Launch
platform
Ships/Ground-launchers/Planes

History edit

 
Transporter erector launcher (TELs) for Noor/Qader missiles. The TEL can be disguised as a civilian truck.

Iran was the first export customer of Chinese C-802 missiles. The contract was signed in 1995 but was cancelled due to U.S. pressure after 60 missiles had been delivered. After that, Iran started a program to reverse engineer the C-802.[2]

It is unknown when the programme was finished, but in 2000 and early 2001, Iran tested an upgraded C-802 missile during Unity-79 wargames. Officials said that the range of the missile is increased from 30 to 130 kilometres (19 to 81 mi).[3]

The missile is powered by Toloue-4, an Iranian version of the French Microturbo TRI 60 engine.[4]

In January 2004, Iran announced that it has started manufacturing the DM-3B mono pulse radar for the Noor missile.[5] According to Iranian officials, DM-3B is a millimeter-wave active radar used in the last stage of missile flight to find the target and home-in the missile on it.[6] Because of its frequency, it is very hard to jam the radar, which is located inside the nosecone.[7]

In 2006, it was announced that the missile's range has been increased further to 170 km (110 mi).[8][9]

In 2011, another variant called Qader was unveiled by Iran with a range of 200 km (120 mi) and the ability to attack coastal targets. A video of the missile hitting its coastal target was published by the Iranian media.[10][11][12]

In early 2012, during Velayete-90 wargames, a Noor missile was tested with improvements in electronic systems, a more jam-resistant radar and better target acquisition algorithms. A Qader missile was also tested in the wargame.[13]

On 10 May 2020, the Iranian support vessel Konarak was struck by a Noor missile which was fired from the Jamaran in the Gulf of Oman close to the Strait of Hormuz, killing 19 of its crew and severely damaging the ship.[14]

Variants edit

  • Basic Noor: Initial reverse-engineered missile with a range of 30 km (19 mi).[citation needed]
  • Noor Phase 2: Improved version with 130 km (81 mi) range.[citation needed]
  • Noor Phase 3: Further increased the range to 170 km (110 mi).[citation needed]
  • Noor Phase 4: Better electronics and computer algorithms.[citation needed]
  • Qader: An upgraded version with the range of 300 km (190 mi).[citation needed]
  • Noor Export Version: A version with the range of 120 km (75 mi).[15]

Operators edit

 
Map with Noor operators in blue

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Destroyer USS Mason Unsuccessfully Attacked From Yemen". USNI News. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's – IHS". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's – IHS". Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. ^ "نیروی هوایی ایران (iranianairforce)". Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Iran Missile Milestones: 1985-2014". Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Iranian Artillery Strength". Forums of Pravda.Ru. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  7. ^ csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/060728_gulf_iran.pdf
  8. ^ "Defense19". india-defence.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  9. ^ "تسلیحات نظامی ایران (37) : موشك كروز دريايي نور". راسخون. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Mass-produced Ghader of anti-ship missile 2011 موشک کروز قادر – IRGC – English Video – CurrentAffairs – ShiaTV.net". Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ mashreghnews.ir, مشرق نیوز (23 August 2011). "رونمايي از اژدر بومي و موشک قادر+عکس". Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  13. ^ "موشک فوق پیشرفته 'نور' با موفقیت شلیک شد". Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  14. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (11 May 2020). "Here's All That's Left of Iranian Navy Ship Struck By Missile in Friendly Fire Tragedy (Updated)". The Drive. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  15. ^ http://www.modlex.ir/cgi-bin/store.pl/page=product.html/pid=MXF05-000430[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  17. ^ Blanford, Nicholas (16 June 2022). "Lebanon-Israel maritime border dispute picks up again".

External links edit