Fattah unveiled: Iran鈥檚 new hypersonic missile fuels tensions with US
Iran claims it has a hypersonic missile capable of reaching speeds 15 times faster than sound amid tense United States-Iran relations over its nuclear program. The missile, named Fattah, has a moveable nozzle that makes interception more challenging.
Women look at the Fattah missile in a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on June 6, 2023.
Iran has declared the successful development of an advanced hypersonic missile, exhibiting an extraordinary ability to reach speeds 15 times faster than the sound barrier.
Hossein Zohrevand/AP
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Iran claimed on Tuesday that it had created a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal as tensions remain high with the United States over Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program.
The new missile 鈥� called Fattah, or 鈥淐onqueror鈥� in Farsi 鈥� was unveiled even as Iran said it would reopen its diplomatic posts on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia after reaching a d茅tente with Riyadh following years of conflict.
The tightly choreographed segment on Iranian state television apparently sought to show that Tehran鈥檚 hard-line government can still deploy arms against its enemies across much of the Middle East.聽聽聽聽
鈥淭oday we feel that the deterrent power has been formed,鈥� Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said at the event. 鈥淭his power is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries.鈥�
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard鈥檚 aerospace program, unveiled what appeared to be a model of the missile. Hajizadeh claimed the missile had a range of up to 1,400 kilometers (870 miles).
That鈥檚 about mid-range for Iran鈥檚 expansive ballistic missile arsenal, which the Guard has built up over the years as Western sanctions largely prevent it from accessing advanced weaponry.
鈥淭here exists no system that can rival or counter this missile,鈥� Mr. Hajizadeh claimed.
That claim, however, depends on how maneuverable the missile is. Ballistic missiles fly on a trajectory in which anti-missile systems like the Patriot can anticipate their path and intercept them. Tuesday鈥檚 event showed what appeared to be a moveable nozzle for the Fattah, which could allow it to change trajectories in flight. The more irregular the missile鈥檚 flight path, the more difficult it becomes to intercept.
Iranian officials did not release footage of a Fattah successfully launching and then striking a target. Mr. Hajizadeh later said that there had been a ground test of the missile鈥檚 engine.
A ground test involves a rocket motor being put on a stand and fired to check its abilities while launching a missile with that rocket motor is much more complex.
Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. Iran described the Fattah as being able to reach Mach 15 鈥� which is 15 times the speed of sound.
China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims to already be fielding the weapons and has said it used them on the battlefield in Ukraine. However, speed and maneuverability aren鈥檛 a guarantee the missile will successfully strike a target. Ukraine鈥檚 air force in May said it shot down a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile with a Patriot battery.
Gulf Arab countries allied with the U.S. widely use the Patriot missile system in the region. Israel, Iran鈥檚 main rival in the Mideast, also has its own robust air defenses.
In November, Mr. Hajizadeh initially claimed that Iran had created a hypersonic missile, without offering evidence to support it. That claim came during the nationwide protests that followed the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country鈥檚 morality police.
Tuesday鈥檚 announcement came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to begin a visit to Saudi Arabia.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.