New Delhi: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on June 18 that it launched a hypersonic Fattah missile towards Israel’s capital, Tel Aviv. State-run companies Mehr Information and Press TV confirmed the event, citing IRGC sources. Based on Press TV, the IRGC described this newest part of its operation as a “turning level”, suggesting that the deployment of the first-generation Fattah missile marked “the start of the top” for what it known as Israel’s “imaginary missile protection programs”.
Since final Friday, Israel has carried out widespread strikes on Iran’s nuclear websites and navy positions. Iran has retaliated with missile assaults concentrating on Tel Aviv and Haifa Port. Though Iran had used Fattah-1 missiles throughout its October 2024 strike on Israel, that is the primary time the weapon has been deployed within the ongoing battle.
First unveiled in 2023, the Fattah missile was named by Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and described by the IRGC as an “Israel-striker”. On the unveiling occasion, an enormous banner in Hebrew learn, “400 seconds to Tel Aviv”, a reference to the missile’s fast pace.
Does Fattah Actually Have Hypersonic Capabilities?
Whereas Iran claims the Fattah is hypersonic, many navy analysts stay skeptical of its precise efficiency. Hypersonic weapons are usually outlined as these travelling between 5 to 25 occasions the pace of sound. The Fattah missile reportedly reaches speeds of 13 to fifteen Mach (about 5 kilometres per second) earlier than hitting its goal. The IRGC launched it as a missile able to evading all recognized interception programs.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Aerospace Organisation, acknowledged on the launch that the missile is “extraordinarily quick”, able to working inside and out of doors Earth’s ambiance. He additionally declared that “no missile can destroy Fattah”.
New Technology – Fattah-2
4 months after the Fattah-1 unveiling, Iran launched the Fattah-2 – a cruise missile with an prolonged vary of 1,500 kilometres. Based on Iranian state media, this missile can fly at low altitudes and alter its course a number of occasions throughout flight. The revealing happened throughout Khamenei’s go to to the Ashura College of Aerospace Sciences and Expertise, although its precise vary stays undisclosed.
Iran’s Full Missile Arsenal
Iran categorises its missile programs into 4 primary teams – rockets, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.
These embrace each domestically developed programs and imported applied sciences from nations like Russia and China. A few of these weapons are ground-launched whereas others are designed for sea-to-sea or sea-to-ground concentrating on.
Throughout its April 2024 strike on Israel, Iran used a mixture of Emad-3 ballistic missiles, Paveh cruise missiles and Shahed-136 drones. State media additionally claimed that Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles had been used.
The Emad missile, launched in 2015, is claimed to have a variety of 1,700 kilometres and carries a 750-kilogram warhead. It’s thought-about an improved model of the Qadr missile.
Paveh, a medium-range cruise missile with a variety of 1,650 kilometers, is able to mid-flight course adjustments and group coordination throughout strikes– options believed to have made it splendid for the Israeli assault.
Unveiled in February 2023, it was later confirmed as having efficiently reached Israel throughout the April 13 assault.
Iran’s strongest missile programs at the moment have a most vary of between 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers, falling in need of having the ability to goal Europe. Based on Iranian navy officers, this vary cap was set on the orders of Supreme Chief Khamenei, who reportedly instructed that no missile ought to exceed 2,000 kilometers in vary. Although he hinted there was a “purpose” for this determination, he didn’t disclose what it was.
Among the many shorter-range choices is the Zolfaghar missile, a 10-meter-long ballistic missile with a 700-kilometer vary and cellular launch capabilities. It was beforehand utilized in 2017 and 2018 towards ISIS targets.
Iran claims this missile can evade radar detection and is a sophisticated model of the Fateh-110, carrying a warhead of roughly 450 kilograms.
What Comes Subsequent?
As Iran escalates its missile rhetoric and capabilities, Israel stays on excessive alert. In response to Iran’s claims and threats, Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged, “I’ve heard our enemies boasting about their selfmade weapons. We have now superior solutions for each type of know-how – on land, within the air and at sea.”
With weapons like Fattah coming into the battlefield, and doubts lingering over their true capabilities, the state of affairs grows extra unstable. Whether or not these programs will tilt the steadiness in Iran’s favour or provoke a bigger regional response stays an open and harmful query.