Although it may seem weak, Iran is walking on the path of a new reality today. A huge radar system stands in a mountainous area with its eyes rolling. This radar named Ghadir is not just a technology but a kind of message in the skies of America and Israel. Tehran is ready.
Recently, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have newly deployed their Ghadir Over the Horizon Radar System near Tabriz. This modern radar has been installed in the northwestern region and the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. This move indicates that Iran is strengthening its air defenses, especially in the face of possible attacks by America and Israel.
Ghadir was first launched in 2011 and was included in Iran's defense system in 2012. This radar, made with Iran's own technology, is capable of detecting ballistic missiles up to 1,100 kilometers and can track aircraft movements up to 600 kilometers.
The specialty of this radar is that it is three-dimensional and has over the horizon capabilities. This means that it can detect enemies even beyond the curvature of the Earth, which is not possible for ordinary line-of-sight radars.
It operates at high frequencies and can detect small drones, stealth aircraft, and even cruise missiles. The locations of these Ghadir radars are strategically important, such as a radar installed on a 2,200-meter-high mountain near Tabriz that can predict any attack on the western border.
On the other hand, radars on the Persian Gulf coast can detect Tomahawk missiles launched from US warships or carrier-based air attacks in advance. However, it is thought that there are concerns about the security of these radars because in October 2024, when two of Iran's Ghadir radars were destroyed by an Israeli attack, Tehran was temporarily blinded to the ballistic threat from the west.
From this experience, Iran has started installing more radars so that there are no more gaps in the sky. The remarkable thing is that this entire program has been exposed through open source intelligence. Researchers have identified the location of these radar sites using satellite imagery, so that the world can know the depth of Iran's preparations as well as the enemies' These are becoming clear targets for another complication here, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, everyone is watching this radar network.
Some see this Iranian radar installation as an aggressive attitude, while others think it is part of self-defense. However, the reality is that installing radar does not mean security. Along with technology, a comprehensive defense system is needed through which this information can be quickly utilized. Iran does not have a real-time network system like the US Aegis system.
However, this cannot be denied. Ghadir is a symbol of Iran's confidence. Tehran is trying to show its position to the world by increasing its reliance on defense and technology. It remains to be seen how much these radars protect Iran.
