A look at Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and range

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Tehran has thousands of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles of various ranges, according to a 2021 report by the “Missile Threat Project” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. .(CSIS)

The exact numbers for each type of missile are not known. But US Air Force General Kenneth McKenzie told Congress in 2023 that Iran has “more than 3,000” ballistic missiles, according to a report this year from Iran Watch at the Wisconsin Nuclear Arms Control Project..

Military experts, who analyzed authentic videos on social media from the scene, told the networkCNN Iran used different types of Shahab 3 ballistic missile in the recent attack on Israel.

The Shahab-3 is the basis for Iran’s intermediate-range ballistic missiles that use liquid propellants, according to Patrick Senft, research coordinator at the Weapons Research Services.(ARES).

The Missile Threat Project says the Shahab 3, which entered service in 2003, can carry a warhead weighing between 760 and 1,200 kilograms and can be launched from mobile launchers as well as silos. ..

Iran Watch says the latest versions of the Shahab 3 missiles, the Qadr and Emad missiles, are up to 300 meters from their intended targets..

Iranian media reported that Tehran used a new missile, the Fateh-1, in the attacks. Tehran describes the Fateh-1 missile as a “hypersonic” missile, meaning it travels at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound (about 6,100 kilometers per hour)..

But analysts point out that almost all ballistic missiles reach supersonic speeds during their flights, especially while heading for their targets..

The term “hypersonic” is often used to refer to hypersonic glide vehicles and hypersonic cruise missiles, which are highly advanced weapons that can travel at supersonic speeds within the Earth’s atmosphere. This makes it very difficult to shoot down such weapons.

Fateh-1 is not one of them, according to Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, who wrote on the subject last year..

Haines says the Fateh-1 missile appears to have a warhead with a “movable re-entry vehicle,” allowing it to make adjustments to avoid missile defenses during a short dive. towards his target..

However, Haines says this capability would be an improvement on previous Iranian missiles.

But analysts were skeptical that Iran would have used the new missile for the first time on Tuesday night..

“It’s one of their newest ballistic missiles, and they’re going to lose a lot of use,” said Trevor Ball, a former senior explosive ordnance technician with the US Army.“.

He said: “Israel will get an idea of ​​its capabilities once it is used. There is also a possibility that it will not work, giving Israel more of an idea of ​​its capabilities.”