Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Israel used a secretive air-launched two-stage ballistic missile in its attack on Iran early on June 13, according to video footage from Iraq.
The footage showed the wreckage of what appears to be the first stage of the missiles used in the attack. The missile motors fell in different parts of Iraq, from the northeastern province of Diyala, to the outskirts of the capital, Baghdad, to the province of Dhi Qar in the south of the country.
The same type of missile was used in Israeli attacks that targeted Iran in April and October of last year. At the time, wreckage was also found in Iraq.
The secretive missile is thought to be a derivative of Israel’s Sparrow family of air-launched target missiles, which were initially developed to mimic ballistic missiles and test anti-missile systems.
In 2013, Rafael, which makes the Sparrow targets, tested the latest version, dubbed Silver Sparrow. This two-stage version was designed to simulate Iranian Shahab-3 class ballistic missiles with a 1,500-2,000 kilometer range and can notably carry a live high-explosive warhead.
Later in 2019, Rafael unveiled an air-launched ballistic missile dubbed Rocks, which was apparently based on the Black Sparrow, the earliest version of the target missile family. At the time, the Israeli defense company didn’t disclose the range of Rocks. However, it said that the missile has “a very significant standoff range” and “a high-velocity trajectory towards the target.”
Rafael also produces the Blue Sparrow version, which is size wise in the middle between the Silver Sparrow and the Black Sparrow.
Rocks missile is made up of a single stage. This means that the missiles used in recent attacks on Iran were based either on the Silver Sparrow or more likely on a secret, modified version of the Blue Sparrow, whose size is more comparable to the wreckage found in Iraq. These two types are typically deployed from F-15 fighter jets.
The missile in question may be the “Golden Horizon” air-launched ballistic missile named in a leaked U.S. intelligence report on Israeli preparations for the attack on Iran that took place on October 26 of 2024.
Besides having a longer range, air-launched ballistic missiles are extremely difficult to detect and intercept. This apparently made them the weapon of choice for Israel when it comes to attacking Iran.
An F-15D takes off with a Blue Sparrow test missile. (Israeli Defense Forces)
The latest Israeli attack, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeted nuclear sites, missile factories and senior leaders across Iran. The Mossad spy agency played a key role in the attack, deploying commandos armed with drones and other precision-guided weapons inside the Islamic Republic.
The Natanz uranium enrichment facility was hit. Most of the air defenses in the country’s western and central region were allegedly wiped out. On top of all of that, senior commanders, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and nuclear scientists were assassinated.
Iran has already launched more than a hundred suicide drone at Israel, all were reportedly intercepted. A more serious response is expected.
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