Breaking News
Iran Unveils MIAAD 120mm Laser-Guided Mortar at Partner 2025 for Low-Cost Precision Strikes.
Iran’s defense industry has fielded the “MIAAD”, a 120mm laser-guided mortar round, highlighted by Iranian outlets and discussed alongside this week’s PARTNER 2025 defense expo in Belgrade.
During Partner 2025 in Serbia, Iran unveiled the “MIAAD” 120mm laser-guided mortar munition, signaling a deliberate escalation in its indigenous precision strike capabilities. Designed by the Iranian Ministry of Defence, the MIAAD merges conventional mortar deployment with advanced laser-guided accuracy, offering a low-cost precision option in rugged and denied environments. Its operational simplicity, tactical flexibility, and top-attack profile position it as a strategic asset for asymmetric warfare and proxy conflicts. This development poses a new layer of challenge for Western and regional military planners focused on countering Iranian influence and arms proliferation.
Iran’s unveiling of the laser-guided 120 mm MIAAD round underscores a steady push to spread precision effects onto relatively low-tech platforms (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The “MIAAD” system, presented by Iran at the Partner 2025 defense exhibition in Belgrade, is a 120mm semi-active laser-guided mortar round designed for use with standard smoothbore mortar tubes. At first glance, it retains the external characteristics of a conventional mortar munition, but its internal systems and targeting mechanisms place it within the domain of precision-guided indirect fire weapons.
Developed by Iran’s Ministry of Defence, MIAAD’s standout feature is its compatibility with standard field mortars, eliminating the need for specialized launchers, fire control systems, or external modifications. Fire preparation, loading, and firing procedures remain unchanged, allowing seamless integration into existing mortar units. This marks a critical evolution in artillery warfare, as MIAAD offers precision engagement at a fraction of the cost and logistical complexity of other precision-guided munitions (PGMs).
Operationally, the MIAAD delivers top-attack lethality at ranges from 4.5 to 8 kilometers, relying on a semi-active laser seeker to home in on illuminated targets. The round weighs 31 kg with a warhead containing 10.7 kg of high-explosive fragmentation (HEF), of which 4.1 kg is pure explosive fill, enough to neutralize light armored vehicles, fortified positions, or high-value personnel concentrations. Its hit probability of 0.7, while not flawless, is notably high for indirect fire systems operating in decentralized or mobile battlefield conditions.
Tactically, MIAAD can be used in salvo fire from multiple mortars aimed at a single laser-designated target or used simultaneously on closely spaced targets without signal interference. This capability enables coordinated strikes from dispersed units, improving survivability and enabling fire superiority in contested or denied terrain, particularly valuable for Iranian-supported militias and proxy forces operating in places like Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Geopolitically, the debut of MIAAD reinforces Iran’s image as a supplier of asymmetric firepower to its regional partners. The system’s value is not limited to Iran’s regular forces; it gives Tehran a precise, portable, and plausibly deniable strike option that can equip allied groups without committing high-end assets. Its ability to operate in rugged and mountainous environments also fits Iranian doctrine that favors decentralized, terrain-adapted resistance operations.
On the military side, MIAAD adds another layer of difficulty for NATO and Gulf Cooperation Council forces. Precision mortar fire in dense urban or peri-urban settings is hard to counter, especially where counter-battery sensors, line-of-sight, or rules of engagement constrain responses. A stated shelf life of around ten years points to stockpiling for long proxy campaigns or as a reserve for major contingencies.
Iran’s unveiling of the laser-guided 120 mm MIAAD round underscores a steady push to spread precision effects onto relatively low-tech platforms. By combining affordability, ease of deployment, and tactical accuracy, MIAAD extends Iran’s leverage in irregular warfare and complicates operations for Western forces involved in counter-insurgency or peacekeeping. With sanctions limiting access to global defense markets, the indigenous development of systems like MIAAD signals a deliberate strategy to invest in disruptive, exportable technologies that can shift local balances of power in the Middle East and beyond.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.