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Iran is developing new hypersonic missiles to counter Israel, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforooshan, deputy commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operations, revealed during an interview with the Tasnim News Agency that was published on September 9.
The commander told the semi-official news agency that said Iran restricted the range of its missiles to 2,000 kilometers according to orders from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in compliance with the country’s operational doctrines and considering the threats.
Iran is currently working to enhance the quality and improve the capabilities of missiles at the range of 2,000 kilometers, the commander said, noting that the country has the required technology to extend the range of its missiles if needed.
Birg. Gen. Nilforooshan went on to reveal that Iran’s first hypersonic missile, Fattah, which was unveiled last June can maneuver at a speed of Mach 14 to 15 has been designed to defeat Israeli anti-missile systems.
Hypersonic missiles like the Fattah reach their top speed at low altitudes in the atmosphere, which makes them extremely difficult to track and intercept.
The IRGC commander said that Fattah and other hypersonic missiles which are currently under development will inflict a “heavy cost” on Israel.
“I’m telling you with confidence that the Zionist regime’s missile defense systems are obsolete in confrontation with this missile [Fattah],” he said, adding that the Iranian hypersonic missile is being mass produced.
The current version of the Fattah has a range of up to 1,400 kilometers, which means it can reach most U.S. bases in the Middle East as well as Israel from Iranian territory. Still, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh revealed plans to extend the range of the missile to 2,000 kilometers shortly after it was unveiled.
Despite facing strict sanctions by the United States and other Western countries as well as repeated sabotage attempts by Israel, the Iranian missile program expanded and achieved a number of breakthroughs in recent years.
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