فابین راهبرد

   In the 1980s Iran obtained artillery rocket production technology from North Korea. The first Iranian large-caliber artillery rocket system was a Fadjr 3. It was a local version of a North Korean M1985. It was soon followed by the Fadjr 5 (Dawn 5), which can be seen as a larger and more powerful version of the Fadjr 3. The Fadjr 5 was developed in the 1990s. Despite simplistic appearance it is a very capable system. In fact it is among the deadliest artillery rocket systems in the world. The Fadjr 5 is used by Iran. Sometimes this artillery system is referred as Fajr 5. It has been exported to Libya and Syria. Iran also reportedly supplied these artillery rocket systems to Hezbollah and Hamas militants. A couple of Fadjr 5 rockets were fired into Israel's territory.

   This artillery rocket system is designed to engage important enemy targets, such as concentrations of troops and armored vehicles, command posts, artillery batteries, radar sites, airfields, as well as other important targets. Range of this system allows to strike targets behind enemy lines. This rocket system is also intended to engage hostile warships.

   The Fadjr 5 has 4 launch tubes for 333 mm unguided artillery rockets. A standard rocket is 6.49 m long and weights 907 kg. Its high explosive warhead weights 175 kg. Fragmentation radius of this rocket is 500 meters. Maximum range of fire is 75 km. Also there are high explosive fragmentation, incendiary, smoke and cluster warheads. So the Fadjr 5 is definitely a devastating system. On paper rockets of the Fadjr are even more capable than those of a Russian Smerch 300 mm artillery rocket system. Though the Smerch carries 3-fold more rockets (12 instead of 4). Rockets of the Fadjr 5 have a storage life of 15 years.

   The original Fadjr 5 launcher was based on commercially available Mercedes-Benz 2624 truck with 6x6 configuration. This truck was license-produced in Iran. At some point these artillery systems were refurbished and based on newer Mercedes-Benz 2631 truck chassis, also with 6x6 configuration. Upgraded vehicles have improved cross-country mobility.

   Behind the vehicle cabin there is another cabin for the crew. This artillery rocket system is operated by a crew of 5 men. The forward control cab accommodates 3 crew members, while the rest are seated in the rear cab.

   Original version had manual controls for the launchers. Upgraded version of the Fadjr 5 is fitted with ballistic computer, which makes all the necessary calculations required to aim the launchers. The rockets can be launched from within the crew cab, or up to 1 km remotely from the vehicle. Stabilizer jacks are lowered to the ground and windows are covered prior to launch in order to protect the crew from debris created by the rocket engines. Operator can launch all rockets in full salvo, or just individual rocket manually. It takes 12 to 32 seconds to launch all 4 rockets.

   Reload rockets are carried by escorting military truck, fitted with a crane. There is also an associated battery command post vehicle, which controls the launcher vehicles and provides firing coordinates. This command post vehicle can be located up to 20 km from the launchers.

Variants

   A proposed extended-range version of the Fadjr 5. This artillery rocket system carries a single rocket of the Fadjr 5 on a launch rail, similar to that of Iranian Zezal battlefield rocket. The rocket is fitted with a booster and is reportedly 9 m long. It has a maximum range of 180 km.

   Fadjr 5C is a new version unveiled in 2017. It uses 300 mm guided rockets similar to those of the Chinese SY-300. These have a range of up to 130 km. These rockets are accurate out to 200 meters using inertial guidance system, and out to 50 meters, using inertial guidance system with satellite navigation update. Due to significantly increased range and accuracy the Fadjr-5C is even more deadlier. It looks like the same launcher vehicle can use a mix of older 333 mm unguided rockets and new 300 mm guided rockets.