Zelzal-3
Zelzal-3 (meaning "earthquake") is an Iranian-made solid propellant guided artillery rocket with a range of 200 km. It is an upgrade of the Zelzal-2 rocket with slightly improved range and was first shown to the public in 2007. A variant, the Zelzal-3B, has a smaller warhead and a range of 250 km.
Zelzal-3

Vahid alpha · Vahid alpha at English Wikipedia · photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Zelzal-3
- Field
- rocket artillery
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wikidata · Q4413293 · wikipedia · Zelzal-3
In this article
Overview
Overview
The shape and dimensions of the Zelzal-3 are nearly identical with previous versions except that the nosecone is cone shaped rather than the dome shaped Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2. The Zelzal-3 has received little use as the much more accurate Fateh-110 missile was also developed from the Zelzal-2.
Key facts
Key facts
• Is Missile — yes • Name — Zelzal-3 • Type — Artillery rocket • Vehicle Range — 250–400 km depending on model • Filling — One • Launch Platform — Transporter erector launcher • Engine — Solid • Guidance — Inertial plus GPS • Length — 9–9.6 m depending on model • Diameter — 610 mm • Weight — 3.6–3.87 tonnes depending on model. • Payload Capacity — 900 kg Zelzal-3, 600 kg Zelzal-3B • Manufacturer — Iran • Service — 2007–present • Used By — See Zelzal-3 • Wars — Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Background
Background
Zelzal series rockets, along with Naze'at series rockets, are Iranian rockets that were designed and built during the Iran-Iraq war. According to Iranian sources, later on, Fateh-110 generation missiles were designed and built from the Zelzal system. Also, this system has been used to build some space probe rockets in Iran.
Technical specifications
Technical specifications
• Illustration — Rocket launch in 2009 Zelzal-3 has a length of 9.6 meters and a diameter of 616 mm. The weight of this missile is 3870 kg, of which 900 kg is the warhead and 1980 kg is the fuel. The error rate of this missile has been reported below 5%. This rocket has the power to have a maximum range of 200 kilometers. These rockets can be launched from mobile and fixed launchers and are installed on triple and single launchers. The appearance of this rocket includes a cylindrical body, four trapezoidal wings at the end of the body and rotating rocket engines in front of the nose section. The nose of this missile, unlike its two previous generations, is a simple cone. In the third generation, while the length and diameter of the rocket has increased, its mass has also increased. The use of this missile has been considered to attack wide targets such as airport runways.
Zelzal-3B variant
Zelzal-3B variant
For the Zelzal 3 rocket, two initial models and an unreleased version have been reported. The two examples introduced in this generation have two different approaches, one with a 50% increase in warhead mass to achieve greater destructive power (with a slight reduction in range) and the other with an increase in range. In version B, the length of the missile is 9 meters and its width is 616 mm. The range of this missile has increased to 250 km and its weight is 3,600 kg.
Operators
Operators
• Illustration — Map with Zelzal-3 operators in blue • Iran • Syria Houthis have a rocket they call the Zelzal-3, which they claim it is locally-made and not imported from Iran.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4413293: Zelzal-3
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Zelzal-3”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Zelzal-3, revision 1371259127 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Modlex.ir. Modlex product: MXF05-000360 Zelzal 3 Surface to Surface Rocket.
- 2.Modlex.ir. Modlex product: MXF05-000370 Zelzal 3-B Surface to Surface Rocket.
- 3.Iran Rocket Missile forces amazonaws.com
- 4.Cordesman, Anthony H. (2007). Lessons of the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War. p. 11.
- 5.وزلزال ایرانی؛ «اولین راکت توپخانهای جهان با کلاهک جداشونده»/ هدیه ویژه به محور مقاومت برای عبور آسان از گنبد آهنین + عکس و فیلم. mashreghnews.ir. 29 December 2021.
- 6.آشنایی با انواع راکتهای زلزال - ایران. hamshahrionline.ir. 20 February 2013.
- 7.آشنایی با انواع راکتهای زلزال - ایران. Hamshahri Online. 2013-02-20.
- 8.Performance check and the function of "Zelzal" rocket and missile + pictures. Revolutionary Documents Center. 2014-10-13.
- 9.Zelzal missile performance check. ISNA. 2016-01-03.
- 10.Articles.janes.com. Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS.
- 11.Iranian Rocketry in the Service of the Houthis in Yemen. Israel Defense. 21 August 2016.
- 12.Analysis: IRGC implicated in arming Yemeni Houthis with rockets
References
Citations
References
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Broader subject
1- rocket artilleryTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- ZCRS-122Terminology
- ZelzalTerminology
- Zelzal-1Terminology
- Zelzal-2Terminology
- ZEUS-HLONSTerminology
- ZH-29Terminology
- zhanmadaoTerminology
- ZiS-2Terminology
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