Iran Deploys Nazir OTH Radar to Monitor Azerbaijan and Eastern Türkiye Airspace
In recent months, there have been allegations that Israel utilized Azerbaijani airspace to launch missile or fighter jet strikes targeting key military positions in Iran, including its air defense assets.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Iran has reportedly deployed the Over-The-Horizon (OTH) radar system known as “Nazir” at high-altitude locations in the western region of Gilan Province to monitor the airspace over Azerbaijan and eastern Türkiye.
The Nazir OTH radar is said to have the capability to detect and track airborne objects at a distance of up to 800 kilometers.
The deployment of the powerful Nazir OTH radar signals a shift in Iran’s policy towards the Azerbaijani government led by Ilham Aliyev, known for its close ties with Türkiye and Israel, particularly in the areas of security and defense.
In recent months, there have been allegations that Israel utilized Azerbaijani airspace to launch missile or fighter jet strikes targeting key military positions in Iran, including its air defense assets.
Iran began operating the Nazir OTH radar system in 2016, following its public unveiling in 2015.
Commander of Iran’s Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli, stated in 2016 that the country had put the domestically-developed Nazir OTH radar system into operation.
Iran’s OTH radar Nazir
The system is capable of detecting radar-evading targets and countering electronic warfare (EW) threats, according to Fars News Agency (FNA).
“The Nazir OTH radar system is now operational, and from this point forward, no radar-evading flying object can enter Iran’s airspace without permission,” General Esmayeeli said.
“This radar is specifically designed to detect small flying objects, including aircraft such as the MQ-1, RQ-4, and U-2. It can easily detect and track ballistic and cruise missiles, and most importantly, stealth aircraft,” he added.
According to Iran’s PressTV, the Nazir OTH radar is a long-range radar system developed domestically with the capability to detect and track various aerial targets, including stealth aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.
The system can detect targets within an 800-kilometer radius and at altitudes of up to 100,000 feet.
Earlier reports from Iranian media indicated that the Nazir OTH radar had been installed in mountainous and plateau regions of southeastern Iran, at altitudes exceeding 3,000 meters, to enhance detection capabilities and expand coverage.
Fully developed within the country, the Nazir OTH radar is designed to operate across multiple frequencies with frequency-hopping capabilities, making it difficult for adversaries to detect.
It is also resistant to electronic warfare attacks and can detect low radar cross-section (RCS) targets, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles that are challenging for conventional radar systems to track.
With these capabilities, the Nazir OTH radar plays a critical role in Iran’s air defense network, providing early warning and enhancing the nation’s ability to detect and track advanced aerial threats. – DSA