Iranian Military Arsenal

Iranian Military Arsenal & Capabilities – February 2026

Airspace Strategic Review

Analysis & Insights by 

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1. Strategic Overview

Iran’s military arsenal in 2026 demonstrates a combination of indigenous development, asymmetric warfare capabilities, and foreign technology integration. Recent escalations with U.S. and Israeli forces highlight the importance of understanding Iran’s air defense, missile, and UAV systems.

Focus: Layered air defense, ballistic and cruise missile force, UAV swarms

Key allies: Russia & China, providing hardware, technology, and training

2. Air Defense Systems

Bavar‑373: Long-range mobile SAM system, designed to intercept aircraft, missiles, and drones

Khordad‑15: Medium-range system, capable of countering fighters and UAVs

Raad & Majid: Short/mid-range systems for low-altitude threats

Strategic Role: Layered defense to saturate attackers and deny airspace

3. Ballistic & Cruise Missiles

Fateh‑110 & Kheibar‑Shekan: Medium-range ballistic missiles for regional strike capability

Qassem Bassir: Advanced terminal guidance, high precision

Cruise missiles: Anti-ship and land-attack roles

4. UAV & Drone Forces

Shahed series: Loitering munitions and swarm attack drones

Mohajer‑6: ISR and strike UAVs

Tactic: Saturation attacks to overwhelm air defenses

5. Foreign Military Support

Russia:

Su‑35 fighters, Mi‑28 helicopters, Verba MANPADS

Enhances survivability and C2 resilience

China:

HQ‑9B SAM systems, CM‑302 anti-ship missiles

ISR technology and tactical integration

Impact: Increases Iran’s defensive reach and complicates allied air operations

6. Airspace Implications

Iran’s airspace control relies on multi-layered detection and saturation tactics

Integration of missile, UAV, and air defense networks limits freedom of action for adversaries

Rapid escalation risk in the event of conflict