Iran Iran Aerospace Industries Organization
Shahab-3
Iran's first medium-range ballistic missile, derived from the North Korean Nodong-1, forming the basis for a wider family of liquid-fuel Iranian MRBMs including the Ghadr-110 and Emad. Range and accuracy figures are Iranian state claims not independently verified.
In service since 2003
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,000
km range
8
Mach
1,000
kg warhead
Pricing: Range and accuracy figures are Iranian state claims, not independently verified
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Sanctioned origin
Under multilateral sanctions; acquisition carries severe legal/financial exposure for most buyers.
Channel: State channel
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2003. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 8 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 1,000 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 1,000 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | High-explosive fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 16.6 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 17,400 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Single-stage liquid-fuel rocket |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Iran Aerospace Industries Organization and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
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Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3? +
The Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 has a maximum range of 1,000 km.
How much does the Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 weigh? +
The Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 has a combat weight of 17,400 kg.
What is the Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 used for? +
The Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How much does the Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3 cost? +
Iran Aerospace Industries Organization Shahab-3: Range and accuracy figures are Iranian state claims, not independently verified. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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