The Fajr-3 Artillery Rocket is an Iranian multiple-launch artillery rocket, a third-generation Katyusha rocket. Fajr

Fajr

The Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers offered by practising Muslims. The five daily prayers collectively form one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the Religion according to Shia Islam.The Fajr prayer is mentioned by name in the...

means 'dawn' in Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

.

The 5.2-meter long, 240 millimeter-calibre Fajr-3 artillery rocket has an estimated range of 45 kilometres or 25–30 miles, weighs 407 kilograms, and carries a 45-kilogram warhead

Warhead

The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...

.

History

Production started on March 1990 by Shahid Bagheri Industries with possible North Korean assistance when Iranian Defense Minister Akbar Torkan

Akbar Torkan

Akbar Torkan was the first head of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from 1989. Formerly head of the defense industries establishment, he was a neutral civilian figure with no close ties to either the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or the regular...

 announced that mass production of the Fajr-3 was taking place.

Mass production was completed with the few first Fajr-3s made on November 6, 1996.

Features

Fajr-3 has the same caliber, range and warhead weight as three known North Korean systems. The 333-millimeter Fajr-5

Fajr-5

The Fajr-5 is an artillery rocket developed by Iran in the 1990s. The system is part of the Fajr family of rockets.-Overview:The latest production of the Fajr-5 is installed on a new Mercedes-Benz 6 x 6 forward control chassis and the platform is now integrated into a complete weapon system rather...

 rocket has a range of about 75–80 kilometres.

Some media has reported that Iran has tested a medium range ballistic missile called Fajr-3, but these may have been mistaken references to the Kosar

Shahab-5

Shahab-5 is an alleged Iranian long-range ballistic missile. The name Shahab is a class of Iranian missiles, with a service time of 1988 to present, which comes in six variants: Shahab-1, Shahab-2, Shahab-3, Shahab-4, Shahab-5, Shahab-6.-See also:...

 missile.

Its launcher has 12 tubes.

Employment

The rockets are used by Iranian Army as a regular artillery. They may also have been supplied to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

 under the name Khaibar-1

Khaibar-1

The Khaibar-1 is an Iranian-made Fajr-5 Artillery rocket renamed and used by the militant group Hezbollah to attack cities and towns in northern Israel...

, They may therefore have been used on a number of occasions in the 2006 Lebanon War.

External links

• Iran Military pictures and video
• Iran Profile: Missile Capabilities—Long-Range Artillery Rocket Programs at NTI
• Iran tests its war technology, AAP report at globalsecurity.org