| Badr-3 | |
|---|---|
 A Badr-3 captured by theBislamach Brigade and theYahalom (IDF) unit at a PIJ Outpost in northernGaza (17 November 2023) | |
| Type | Surface-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Palestinian Islamic Jihad |
| Wars | Gaza–Israel conflict,2023 Israel-Hamas War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Technical Directorate for Military Production, a branch of thePopular Mobilization Forces,al-Quds Force Unit 340 |
| Specifications | |
| Effective firing range | 13 km |
| Warhead weight | 250-400 kg |
TheBadr-3 (Arabic: بدر 3 (صاروخ)),Hebrew: בדר 3) is asurface-to-surface missile. Developed in 2019 inIran under thePopular Mobilization Forces's Technical Directorate for Military Production and theQuds Force, its design was primarily produced and exported as part of thePalestinian rocket arsenal, of which its primary user is theAl-Quds Brigades underPalestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).[1][2]
Compared to other rockets byHamas, PIJ, and Palestinian factions in theGaza–Israel conflict, the Badr-3 has a heavier payload than most other rockets, with a verified range of 8 miles (13 km), despite claims by PIJ to be able to travel 160 km, compared to the likes of theFajr-5, the R-160, and Hamas' Ayyash 250 (250 km range).[1][2][3]
With a warhead weighing 250 kg, in October 2023, a spokesperson for al-Quds Brigade claimed variants with a 400 kg warhead.[4] Though its early development was primarily in Iran, it was designed to be able to be produced locally.[2]
Early stages of its development was placed around 2016–2018, as intelligence reports indicated that Iran was developing and producing ballistic missiles for proxies amongst its allies with focus on distribution toIraqi militias and allies throughout the Middle East, includingHouthi rebels,Hezbollah, and PIJ.[2][5]
Early stages of the missile's development was helmed byIRGC'sQuds Force Unit 340 with motor testing inBid Kaneh and test flights atSemnan, Iran.[2]
The PIJ unveiled the missile in 2019, with its first usage launched from Gaza to the city ofAshkelon.[1][6]
The missile saw sporadic usage inPalestinian rocket attacks on Israel from 2019 to 2023, to which on 12 May 2023, the missile was intercepted during the debut operation ofDavid's Sling.[7]
The missile saw extensive usage on part of the PIJ during the2023 Israel–Hamas war. On 17 November 2023, during theIsraeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, theBislamach Brigade andYahalom units of theIsrael Defense Forces captured a set of missiles in northern Gaza. They were then sent to Israel for further analysis.[8]
