JERUSALEM, — March 1, 2026 : The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted coordinated airstrikes on February 28 against Iranian surface-to-air missile infrastructure in the Kermanshah region as part of the ongoing multinational military campaign designated Operation Epic Fury. Among the systems struck was a medium-range air defense battery that independent technical analysis identifies as Iran’s domestically developed Khordad-3.
The IAF initially described the destroyed asset as an “advanced SA-65” system. However, defense analysts, including observers from the Army Recognition Group, assessed released 3D operational footage and concluded that the configuration corresponds to the Khordad-3, also known as Sevom Khordad.
Technical Identification of the Targeted System
Footage released by the IAF depicted a transporter-erector-launcher mounted on a tactical chassis carrying three vertically aligned cylindrical missile canisters. The launcher operated in conjunction with a separate radar vehicle equipped with a flat-panel phased-array antenna.
Analysts noted that this three-canister vertical launch configuration aligns directly with the Khordad-3 system. The layout differs from Russian Buk variants, which typically employ four exposed rail-mounted missiles, and from the S-300 family, which uses larger quad-canister launch units and distinct radar architectures.
The designation “SA-65” does not correspond to any publicly documented NATO reporting name, which traditionally follow sequences such as SA-6, SA-10, SA-17, or SA-21. Analysts assess that “SA-65” is likely an internal Israeli military intelligence classification rather than an established international designation.
Capabilities of the Khordad-3 System
The Khordad-3 forms part of Iran’s Raad family of air defense systems and is positioned within the country’s layered defensive structure between long-range strategic systems and short-range point defenses.
The system is assessed to deploy Sayyad-2 or Taer-2B interceptor missiles, with an engagement range estimated between 50 and 75 kilometers and an altitude envelope of approximately 25 to 30 kilometers. It employs an active phased-array radar capable of tracking multiple aerial targets and guiding several interceptors simultaneously.
The Khordad-3 is designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. In June 2019, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used the system to shoot down a U.S. Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating its operational capability.
Strategic Importance of the Kermanshah Sector
Western Iran, including the Kermanshah region, functions as a defensive belt protecting critical infrastructure located deeper within the country. Military and strategic assets in this corridor include missile infrastructure, air bases, logistics hubs, and command facilities.
The geographic position also covers western air approaches linking Iraq to central Iran. Medium-range systems such as the Khordad-3 provide overlapping engagement coverage intended to intercept incoming threats before they reach high-value targets. The removal of a battery in this sector eliminates a cohesive engagement node composed of radar, fire control, and launcher elements from Iran’s integrated air defense network.
Scope of Operation Epic Fury
Operation Epic Fury began at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time on February 28, 2026, and involves coordinated action by U.S. and Israeli forces. The operation was directed by the President of the United States and targets Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
Precision munitions were launched from air, land, and sea platforms. Israel employed F-35 and F-15 aircraft in the strikes and conducted attacks on hundreds of targets across Iran, including in Tehran.
According to U.S. Central Command, there were no U.S. combat casualties and only minimal damage to U.S. installations during the initial phase of the operation.
Iranian Response and Regional Air Defense Activity
Following the strikes, Iran launched drones and ballistic missiles at Israel and at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Air defense systems in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar intercepted incoming missiles. Debris from intercepted projectiles resulted in one fatality on the ground.
U.S. officials described the operation as representing the largest regional concentration of U.S. military firepower in a generation.
Leadership Impact
The strikes included operations in Tehran and resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Satellite imagery and further battle damage assessments are expected to provide additional clarity regarding the extent of degradation inflicted on Iran’s integrated air defense architecture, including the impact of the destruction of the Khordad-3 battery in Kermanshah.
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