What is the Misagh-2?
Russian forces have begun using an Iranian Misagh-2 man-portable surface-to-air missile system to intercept Ukrainian unmanned aircraft, according to Ukrainian reporting and imagery.
- Misagh-2 is an Iranian man-portable infrared-guided surface-to-air missile system.
- It is a variant of the Chinese QW-2 Vanguard missile system.
- Its main mission is to strike tactical targets such as fighters, attackers, and armed helicopters at low and very low altitudes
- It can also supply effective air defense for military bases, political and industrial centers, and other important facilities.
- It can engage approaching targets out to 6 km and receding targets out to 5.2 km.
- The maximum effective altitude against jet fighters is about 5 km, and helicopters and subsonic aircraft about 3.5 km.
- It uses a passive infrared (IR) seeker and is designed as a fire-and-forget weapon.
- Once launched, the missile can track the infrared signature of its target without requiring continued guidance from the operator, allowing the firing team to immediately leave its position.
- Its dual-band passive IR seeker has strong resistance to heat flares dispensed by the target and solar/ground heat, thus improving the missile’s performance in day/night, all-weather conditions
