LIMA 2025: Iran details two previously unknown radar systems

Iran's P-3009 medium-range ground surveillance radar is displayed at LIMA 2025. The radar is designed to automatically track moving ground targets. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

The Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) has presented information on two ground-based pulsed X-band radar systems for the first time. The radars were displayed during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2025 held in Malaysia from 20 to 24 May.

Identified as the P-3009 medium-range ground surveillance radar and the P-3017 low-altitude surveillance radar, both systems entered service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces in 2017, a MODAFL official told Janes . However, the official added that details of these two systems were previously not made public outside Iran.

“The radars were wholly developed in Iran, including the chipsets and sensors,” the MODAFL official added.

According to information presented by MODAFL at the exhibition, the P-3009 is designed to detect and track ground-based movements, including trucks, cars, motorcycles, and people.

The system identifies the ground targets after detection, with automatic tracking of the moving targets conducted thereafter, MODAFL said, adding that the system has two modes: single target tracker (STT) and track-while-scan (TWS).

The radar can detect human movement at ranges of up to 15,000 m, light vehicles up to 25,000 m, and heavy vehicles up to 40,000 m, according to the radar's specification sheet. The minimum detection range is 200 m.

Radar range accuracy is 15 m, with azimuth accuracy being at 0.7°. Range resolution, which refers to a radar's ability to distinguish between targets that are close to each other in terms of distance, is specified as being 30 m.