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Zolfaghar (missile)
Iranian short range ballistic missile From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Zolfaghar (Persian: ذوالفقار) missile is an Iranian road-mobile,[2] single-stage, solid-propelled SRBM[1] named after Zulfiqar the sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is believed to be derived from the Fateh-110 SRBM family[2] (possibly the Fateh-313 missile).[1] The Aerospace Industries Organization unveiled the weapon in 2016.[3] It entered service in 2017.[1] It was first used in the 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike and was therefore one of the first used mid-range missiles since 30 years.[4]
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Design
According to Iranian sources, the Zolfaghar missile has a length of 10.3 m (34 ft), a diameter of 0.68 m (2.2 ft), and a launch weight of 4,615 kg (10,174 lb) with a 590 kg (1,300 lb) warhead. The warhead is designed to separate in the missile's midcourse phase, making it more difficult to detect, track, and intercept than unibody missiles like the 9K720 Iskander.[5] According to Iranian media sources, a naval variant called the "Zolfaqar Basir" has also been developed, which the IRGC claims has a range of more than 700 km (430 mi).[6]
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History
It was first unveiled during a military parade aboard a vehicle decorated with an anti-Zionist banner[2] on 25 September 2016[1] after which Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan claimed that the missile had a range of 700 km (430 mi).[1][2] The Iranian Ministry of Defense would later on release a video of its testing.[1] On 17 June 2017 Iran launched six Zolfaghar missiles into Syria towards the Deir ez-Zor region on ISIS targets as a response to the attack in Tehran on 8 June 2017.[1]
In February 2019 Iran unveiled a new longer range version of the Zolfaghar missile called the Dezful missile with a range of 1,000 km (620 mi); this range would classify it as an MRBM.[7]
On 7 March 2021, Yemeni Houthi attacked different locations in Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and armed drones with a Zolfaghar ballistic missile along with several Samad-3 loitering munitions targeted the Aramco oil facilities at Ras Tanura.[8][9]
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Operators
State-operators
Reported future operators
Russia – An intelligence assessment shared in October 2022 with Ukrainian and U.S. officials contended that Iran's armaments industry was preparing a first shipment of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles to Russia.[11] Western media reported the sale was confirmed by the Iranian side later in October.[10] Iran rejected the Western "media hype" over the delivery of Iranian missiles to Russia. The foreign minister said that "what they have said about the missiles is completely wrong."[12] As of April 2024 no missile sales have occurred.
See also
References
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