The Fadjr-5 333 mm (4-round) Artillery Rocket System (ARS) was developed by the Shahid Bagheri Industries division of the Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran and uses the same chassis as the Fadjr-3 240 mm (12-round) artillery rocket system. Details of the latter system are given in a separate entry.

The Fadjr-5 is based on a modified older generation Mercedes-Benz 2624 series (6 × 6) truck chassis with the engine and fully enclosed two-door cab at the front. To the immediate rear of the cab is a small crew compartment. When launching rockets the cab windscreen would normally be protected by shutters.

Mounted on the rear of the chassis is the turntable with the manually operated elevating and traversing mechanism on the left side. The Fadjr-5 has a total of four 333 mm diameter rocket launcher tubes in one layer with launcher elevation being from 0 to +57° and with a traverse of 45° left and right.

It launches a solid propellant 333 mm unguided rocket with fins that unfold after launch and the rockets can be launched with an ambient temperature of between -40 to +50°C. The specifications below are the latest information, as earlier sources had quoted a length of 6.46 m, a weight of 860 kg and a maximum range of 68,000 m.

The Fadjr-5 system has a rate of fire of one rocket every four or eight seconds and replacement 333 mm Fadjr-5 rockets are packed one to a crate which weighs 1.21 tonnes.

To provide a more stable firing platform, four stabilisers are lowered to the ground before the rockets are launched, two of these are positioned at the rear of the vehicle with another one between the second and third axles on either side.

The rockets can be launched singly or in ripple fire and once the launcher has expended its rockets it would normally deploy to another position when new rockets would be loaded using a crane.

To help avoid counterbattery fire, the Fadjr-5 would normally redeploy to another position for reloading once the four 333 mm rockets have been launched.

It is possible that some of the technology of these rocket systems could have come from North Korea.

It is assumed that these rockets have a high-explosive warhead, although other types of warhead are considered possible.

The Iranian Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) have developed an upgraded version of the FADJR-5 333 mm (4-round) unguided surface-to-surface artillery rocket system (ARS).

This is understood to be in production and service with Iran but at this stage it is not clear as to whether these are brand new production systems or upgraded versions of the original production FADJR-5 333 mm (4-round) ARS.

The baseline FADJR-5 333 mm (4-round) ARS has been in service with Iran for some years installed on an older generation Mercedes-Benz (6 × 6) cross-country truck chassis.

The latest production of the FADJR-5 ARS is installed on a new Mercedes-Benz (6 × 6) forward control chassis with the platform now integrated into a complete weapon system rather than an individual launcher.

The new chassis has improved cross-country mobility with the forward control fully enclosed cab providing space for the driver and two passengers.

To the immediate rear of the cab is another fully enclosed cabin for the remainder of the crew. To provide a more stable firing platform four hydraulically operated stabilisers are lowered to the ground before firing commences.

This Mercedes-Benz chassis is similar to that manufactured in China and used as the basis for the NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) 122 mm (40-round) Type 90 ARS which is covered in a separate entry.

In the original version of the FADJR-5 333 mm (4-round) ARS, each launcher had to be laid onto the target on an individual basis. This took time and reduced the overall effectiveness of the system.

The new upgraded system is fully computerised with a typical troop having four launchers with a command post vehicle. Two troops would make up a battery with each battalion typically having two batteries to give a total of 16 launchers.

At the battery level there is a command post vehicle based on a 4 × 4 truck chassis with a meteorological unit and battalion command vehicle at battalion level.

At the troop level there is also a repair facility, two transportation and loading vehicles and two loading vehicles.

Fire missions would normally be carried out through the chain of command with each launcher being provided its own computer which would receive information via a data link.

The GPS would inform the platform of its exact position with the computer providing information to level the launcher and then lay the launcher onto the target.

In addition to launching the rockets from inside of the launch platform, there is also a remote fire capability from a distance of 1,000 m as well as from the command post vehicle that could be up to 20 km away.

It is understood that the 333 mm unguided rocket is the same as that deployed by the earlier launcher although it is considered probable that an upgraded rocket with enhanced capabilities could be under development.

This baseline rocket has a maximum range of 75 km with a claimed CEP (circular error of probability) of 4 per cent of range. The rocket is 6.485 m long and has a launch weight of 915 kg with the High Explosive (HE) warhead being fitted with an impact or proximity fuze but other types of warhead could be fitted including sub-munition and HE incendiary.

The earlier Mercedes-Benz (6 × 6) chassis is also used as the basis for a number of other Iranian AIO ARS including the FADJR-3 240 mm (12 round) ARS.

According to the AOI it would be possible to field a mixed unit equipped with upgraded versions of the FADJR 333 mm (4-round) systems and the FADJR 240 mm (12-round) ARS.