TEHRAN, : Commercial satellite imagery captured in February 2026 by Planet Labs and Airbus indicates that Iran has redeployed apparent S-300 surface-to-air missile launchers at multiple air defense facilities near Tehran and Isfahan. The development follows widespread assessments that much of Iran’s S-300 network was destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in 2024.
The newly released imagery shows launcher units erected at previously documented air defense sites. Measurements derived from overhead analysis indicate launcher lengths of approximately 15 to 16 meters, consistent with the 5P85 series transporter erector launchers associated with the S-300PM family. Support and logistics vehicles are also visible at the locations, suggesting structured emplacement rather than temporary staging.
However, analysts reviewing the imagery report that key radar components typically paired with S-300 batteries are not visible at their customary deployment positions.
Redeployment Observed, Core Radars Absent
Open-source imagery analysis indicates that while launcher vehicles are present, dedicated engagement and acquisition radars normally required for full operational capability are not observable at the sites near Tehran and Isfahan.
The absent systems include:
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30N6E1 Engagement Radar, responsible for continuous target illumination and terminal missile guidance.
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64N6E Long-Range Acquisition Radar, used for wide-area airspace surveillance.
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76N6 Low-Altitude Detector, designed to detect low-flying targets.
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LEMZ 96L6 “Cheese Board” Radar, a planar array early-warning radar featuring electronic beam steering in elevation and mechanical steering in azimuth.
The 30N6E1 engagement radar is central to the S-300PM’s Track Via Missile (TVM) guidance architecture. Without this radar, the system cannot operate according to its designed fire-control method, limiting engagement range, tracking accuracy, and electronic counter-countermeasure resistance.
Analysts assess that the visible launcher units could represent damaged systems being repositioned, incomplete batteries awaiting additional components, or potential decoy deployments. No independent confirmation has been provided by Iranian authorities regarding the operational status of the systems.
Technical Configuration of the S-300PMU-2
Iran operates the S-300PMU-2, an export variant of the Russian S-300PM series, a third-generation long-range air defense system introduced around 1990. The system was designed to counter fixed-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and certain ballistic missile threats under heavy electronic warfare conditions.
A standard S-300PM battery operates within a defined mechanical and organizational structure:
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Fire Units: Up to four 83P6 fire units per battery.
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Launchers: Twelve 5P85S and 5P85D transporter erector launchers.
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Mobility: Semi-trailer mounted missile containers raised vertically for launch, typically towed by 6x6 KRAZ-260 trucks.
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Command Post: A 54K6E command vehicle coordinating up to six batteries within a battalion-level network.
The system employs Fakel-produced 48N6 and 48N6E interceptor missiles with the following specifications:
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Length: Approximately 7.25 meters
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Weight: Approximately 1,804 kilograms
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Warhead: 143-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation
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Maximum Speed: Around 2,100 meters per second (approximately Mach 6)
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Launch Interval: As short as three seconds between missile firings
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Engagement Range: Typically 75 to 90 kilometers for aerodynamic targets, with extended configurations reaching up to 150 kilometers
The S-300PM’s effectiveness relies on layered radar coverage and coordinated data links between acquisition, engagement, and command units.
Integration With Indigenous Air Defense Systems
At the Isfahan site, satellite imagery shows S-300 components positioned alongside domestically developed Iranian air defense systems, indicating possible efforts to integrate foreign and indigenous platforms within a shared operational framework.
Visible systems include:
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Bavar-373, Iran’s long-range surface-to-air missile system equipped with the Sayyad-4 interceptor. Iranian sources describe it as capable of engaging targets at distances approaching 200 kilometers and altitudes up to 27 kilometers. It is supported by the Meraj-4 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
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Khordad-15, a medium-range system paired with the Sayyad-3 missile, reported to have an engagement range of approximately 120 kilometers.
If domestic radar assets such as the Meraj-4 are being used to compensate for missing Russian-origin sensors, analysts note that interoperability challenges may arise. Differences in data link protocols, radar-to-missile communication architecture, and command integration could limit system efficiency.
Operational Assessment
A fully equipped S-300PM battalion provides area defense through high interceptor velocity, rapid launch intervals, and multi-layered radar coverage. However, the system is dependent on ground-based radar emissions, making it susceptible to anti-radiation missiles and electronic warfare targeting.
Based on the available imagery, defense analysts assess that the redeployed launchers do not currently demonstrate the complete radar configuration required for full operational capability. Compared to pre-2024 deployments, Iran’s long-range air defense posture appears reduced in integration and coverage density.
The absence of dedicated fire-control radars narrows the defended footprint and limits engagement capability unless alternative radar integration is confirmed. As of February 2026, no official Iranian statement has clarified the operational status of the redeployed S-300 components.
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