RAAD (anti-tank guided missile)
{{distinguish|text=other military uses of "Raad" at Raad (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=RAAD
|image=Defense Industries Organization tour (14).jpg
|caption=RAAD-T
|origin=Iran
|type= Anti-tank missile
|is_ranged=
|is_explosive=yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_missile=yes
|service= 1988–present
|used_by= See Operators
|wars= 2006 Lebanon War
Syrian Civil War
Iraqi Civil War
|designer=KBM
|design_date=
|manufacturer= Parchin Missile Industries{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/parchin.htm|title=Parchin|date=2008-10-15|access-date=2009-01-12}}
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|variants= See Variants
|spec_label=
|weight= 10.9 kg (RAAD/I-RAAD)
23 kg (guidance System)
|length= 83 cm (RAAD/I-RAAD)
98 cm (RAAD-T/I-RAAD-T)
|rate= 2 missiles/minuteParchin Missile Industries, I-RAAD-T brochure
|sights= license-built 9S415 guidance unit (MCLOS) or SACLOS guidance
|filling=HEAT
|yield=400 mm RHA (I-RAAD-T)
|speed= 120 m/s
}}
The Raad ({{langx|fa| رعد}}, 'thunder') or RAAD is an Iranian wire-guided anti-tank guided missile based on the Soviet 9M14M Malyutka (AT-3b Sagger) missile.{{cite web | url=https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2021/07/28/this-iranian-missile-launcher-is-a-world-of-trouble/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728110646/https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2021/07/28/this-iranian-missile-launcher-is-a-world-of-trouble/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=July 28, 2021 | title=This Iranian Missile Launcher is a World of Trouble | date=28 July 2021 }} The Raad began mass production in 1988 and was publicly unveiled in 1997. It is manufactured by Parchin Missile Industries, a subsidiary of Iran's Defense Industries Organization.[https://www.nti.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/iran_missile.pdf Iran missile] nti.org September 2021
The Raad family comes in four variants: the base RAAD missile, a clone of the 9M14M Malyutka-M (AT-3b Sagger); the I-RAAD, with SACLOS guidance, the RAAD-T, with a tandem warhead, and the I-RAAD-T, with both a tandem warhead and SACLOS guidance.
RAAD means thunder in Persian. It is not an acronym and many sources do not capitalize the name.
History
During the Iran-Iraq War, Iran had an acute need for anti-tank missiles, necessitating the country to buy AT-3 Sagger missiles.{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/AIO-Raad-Anti-Tank-Guided-Weapon-Iran.html|title=AIO Raad Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (Iran), Vehicle-mounted anti-tank guided weapons|access-date=2009-01-19|publisher=Jane's Information Group|date=2008-07-02|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227153218/http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/AIO-Raad-Anti-Tank-Guided-Weapon-Iran.html|archivedate=2009-02-27}} Iran also acquired the HJ-73, the Chinese version of the Sagger.https://zbiam.pl/artykuly/przeciwpancerne-pociski-kierowane-iranu-cz-1/
Indigenous manufacturing work began in the tail end of the war{{cite web|url=http://hamshahrionline.ir/details/177687|title=آشنایی با موشکهای ضد زره ایران|website=hamshahrionline.ir|date=16 July 2012}} and mass production began in 1998,{{cite web|url=http://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Iran/FileId/89383/|title=Arms Deliveries to Iran and Self-Sufficiency|date=24 February 1988|publisher=Defense Intelligence Agency|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621071853/https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Iran/FileId/89383/|archivedate=2018-06-21}} with the Raad being the first anti-tank guided weapon to be built by Iran. The RAAD was obtained with Russian assistance.{{cite journal |author1=Anthony H. Cordesman |author2=Michael Peacock |title=The Arab-U.S. Strategic Partnership and the Changing Security Balance in the Gulf |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/arab-us-strategic-partnership-and-changing-security-balance-gulf |website=CSIS |access-date=16 May 2023 |date=19 October 2015}}
The weapon was unveiled on April 30, 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788_1812.html |title=Missile Chronology, 1997 |publisher=Nuclear Threat Initiative |date=February 2006 |access-date=2009-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227085456/http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788_1812.html |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }} The RAAD has almost identical components with 9M14 Malyutka, from the battery to the guidance unit.{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jiw/jiw_0753.html |title=RAAD series anti-tank weapon systems (Iran), Anti-tank weapons |publisher=Jane's Information Group |access-date=2009-02-20 |date=2008-12-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227153222/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jiw/jiw_0753.html |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }}
According to SIPRI, 1500 RAAD/Sagger missiles were built or imported by Iran between 1996 and 2001{{cite web|url=http://www.waronline.org/mideast/iran_industry.htm|script-title=ru:Ракетная промышленность, Военная промышленность Ирана|access-date=2009-01-12|date=2002-12-19|language=ru|publisher=War Online|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030204053719/http://www.waronline.org/mideast/iran_industry.htm|archive-date=2003-02-04}} and 2,250 from 1996 to 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/REG_IMP_IRA_94-04.pdf|title=Transfers and licensed production of major conventional weapons: Imports sorted by recipient. Deals with deliveries or orders made 1994-2004|access-date=2009-02-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111064638/http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/REG_IMP_IRA_94-04.pdf|archive-date=2006-01-11}}
Combat use
Iran supplied Hezbollah with the Raad in the early 2000s and Hezbollah used Raad missiles in the 2006 Lebanon War.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocnus.net/cgi-bin/exec/view.cgi?archive=100&num=25670&printer=1|title=Arab States Eye Better Spec Ops, Missiles|author=Riad Kahwaji|access-date=2009-01-12|date=2006-08-20|publisher=Ocnus.Net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227154112/http://www.ocnus.net/cgi-bin/exec/view.cgi?archive=100&num=25670&printer=1|archive-date=2009-02-27}} Israel captured ten baseline RAAD missiles on the Karine A in January 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.waronline.org/en/analysis/pal_weapons.htm|title=Weapons Found on 'Karine-A' and 'Santorini'|access-date=2009-02-20|date=2002-07-20|author=Kirill & Oleg Granovsky|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210174102/http://www.waronline.org/en/analysis/pal_weapons.htm|archive-date=2003-02-10}}
The Raad has been used in the Syrian Civil War by Hezbollah fighters, and the Syrian Army.{{cite web |author1=Yiftah S. Shapir |title=Observations on Hizbollah Weaponry |url=https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/The-Second-Lebanon-War-223-232.pdf |website=INSS}} I-RAAD missiles have been used by ISIL fighters in Iraq.{{cite web | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-military-equipment-arsenal-2014-11#anti-tank-missiles-24 | title=As ISIS Continues to Gain Ground, Here's What the Militants Have in Their Arsenal | website=Business Insider }}
On October 7, 2023, Al-Quds Brigades militants used a RAAD-T during the raid on Israel from Gaza.{{cite web | url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_october_2023_global_security_army_industry/al_quds_brigade_deploys_from_gaza_iranian-made_raad-t_missile_in_attack_on_israeli_target.html | title=Al Quds Brigade Deploys from Gaza Iranian-made RAAD-T Anti-Tank Missil | date=21 October 2023 }}
Variants
=RAAD=
=RAAD-T=
The first improvement of the RAAD missile, the RAAD-T has a tandem warhead to defeat explosive Reactive Armor.{{cite web | url=https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/land/row/at3sagger.htm | title=AT - 3 SAGGER / HJ-73 Hongjian (Red Arrow) Anti-Tank Guided Missile }} However, the RAAD-T still uses the obsolete MCLOS guidance of the original RAAD. According to its export material, the RAAD-T has improved maneuverability over the base RAAD and has 400 mm RHA penetration after reactive armor.Terrorism: Documents of International and Local Control, Volume 92. Oceana Publications, 2008. p. 211
=I-RAAD=
For Improved RAAD, the I-RAAD has a different launcher with a tripod-mounted SACLOS guidance system that makes the missile much easier to aim. The specific SACLOS method is a TV differential tracker. The guidance unit is similar to that of the Chinese HJ-73 system, and possibly the HJ-73C model in particular. First seen in 1998. RAAD missiles can be used by I-RAAD launchers.
It's used to defeat ERA armor.{{cite web | url=https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/9K11_Malyutka_%28AT-3_Sagger%29_Russian_Anti-Tank_Guided_Missile_%28ATGM%29 | title=ODIN - OE Data Integration Network }}
=I-RAAD-T=
The I-RAAD-T system combines the tandem-warhead of the RAAD-T missile with the SACLOS guidance system of the I-RAAD launcher. RAAD and I-RAAD missiles can be retrofitted to the I-RAAD-T standard. The I-RAAD-T also includes a simulator that allows operators to be trained on the system without actually firing a missile. 400 mm RHA penetration after reactive armor.
Operators
- {{flag|Iran}}{{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2019|date=February 2019|publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies|ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2019}}|isbn=978-1857439885|page=341}}
- {{flag|Syria}}{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@badly_xeroxed/common-atgms-in-the-syrian-civil-war-6395ea4305ec|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326142131/https://medium.com/@badly_xeroxed/common-atgms-in-the-syrian-civil-war-6395ea4305ec|title=Common ATGMs in the Syrian Civil War|date=17 August 2016|archive-date=26 March 2018|work=Medium}}
=Non-State actors=
- Al-Quds Brigades
- {{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} Hezbollah
- {{flag|Islamic State}}: Acquired I-RAADs.