Tel Aviv: Armenia is the launch customer for Iran’s Majid AD-08 air defence system. Armenia publicly displayed the system at its Republic Day parade in Yerevan on May 28, 2026.
The secret $500 million arms deal was signed between Iran and Armenia in July 2024.
The Majid AD-08 is a short-range air defence (SHORAD) using passive infrared guidance with no radar. According to sources, the system detects targets at 15 km, engages up to 8 km range and 6 km altitude.
This marks Iran’s first known weapons export of the Majid AD-08 to a foreign military. Armenia acquired it while diversifying away from Russia as its primary weapons supplier.
The Chinese-made air defence system is designed to intercept low-altitude targets, UAVs, cruise missiles, and helicopters.
Experts say that the Majid system is particularly unique because it tracks using passive thermal and electro-optical imaging rather than active radar. This allows the launchers to operate in total silence and evade detection by enemy radar warning systems.
Unlike the standard Iranian setup mounted on ARAS-2 pickup trucks, the units delivered to Armenia are integrated onto commercial Iveco daily vehicle chassis for better battlefield mobility in rough terrain.
Armenia’s acquisition of the Majid AD-08 signals a distinct pivot in its military strategy. Following security frustrations and the loss of the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Azerbaijan—a state heavily armed with advanced drones and Israeli-made weaponry—Armenia has been actively seeking to diversify its arms imports and move away from its historical, heavy reliance on Russia.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
