Iranian ASBM?

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5642659&c=AIR&s=MID

TEHRAN - Iran is mass producing a new ballistic missile that can travel at more than three times the speed of sound and hit targets on the high seas, top commanders said on Feb. 7.

Cmdr. Mohammad Ali Jafari, who heads the elite military force, the Revolutionary Guards, said the missile - named "Persian Gulf" - had a range of 300 kilometers.

"Iran is mass producing a smart ballistic missile for sea targets with a speed three times more than the speed of sound," state news agency IRNA quoted Jafari as saying about the new missile.

He said the missile was "undetectable and can't be neutralized by enemies," without specifying the name. "It has very high precision in destroying targets," Jafari added.

"As the enemy's threats will likely come from the sea, air and by missiles, the Guards have been equipped with capabilities to neutralize the enemy's advanced technology," he said, according to another Iranian news agency, ISNA.

Iran's missile and space programs have sparked concern in the West that such advanced technologies, combined with the nuclear know-how which the nation is acquiring, may enable Tehran to produce an atomic weapon.

Tehran denies its nuclear program has military aims.

The new missile can be fired "from surface ballistically and can hit enemy vessels from a high altitude," Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Guards' air force wing told Fars news agency.

"The missile is named Persian Gulf ... its warhead will carry 650 kilograms of explosives," he said, adding that the missile was powered by solid fuel and designed by the Guards.

Footage on state television showed the missile being fired atop a mobile launcher from a desert terrain.

The announcement of the new missile comes as Iran holds celebrations to mark the 32nd anniversary of its Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah.

Iran uses the run-up to the Feb. 11 anniversary to tout its scientific and technological achievements.

In a separate function, Iran unveiled four new home-built satellites and engines of a rocket.

Meanwhile the head of naval Guards' naval forces, Ali Fadavi, issued a warning that Iran will hit back if it came under attack.

"The Islamic republic has the ability of blocking the Strait of Hormuz if threatened," Fadavi told Mehr news agency.

"We will deliver a very firm response if any powers do the slightest thing to hurt the security of the region."

Iranian military officials regularly warn of blocking the Strait of Hormuz - the route through which 40 percent of world's oil supply by sea passes - in case Iran comes under attack.

The U.S. and Israel have never ruled out the option of military strikes against Iran to stop its nuclear program.

I pray this turns out to be a hoax. As while China is likely to not use their ASBM, Iran surely will if they possess this type of missile.

 

[Avimimus]

I think there may be a misinterpretation of the word "ballistic" going on.

We can all hope that the regime will change before weapons are used.

 

[Firefly 2]

I think most missile defense systems should be able to deal with an SRBM style trajectory.

http://defense-update.com/wp/20110208_fateh110_eo.html

 

[Eagle2009]

It's not a hoax fellows, there's even a video out there showing the impact and stills from the last few seconds of the video showing the missile just before impact. The missile is a modification of the Fateh-110 with the only real difference seen is the nose of the missile is more flat or rounded compared to the pointed nose of the Fateh-110.

Now how many launches it took to hit this stationary target who knows but the photos largely speak for themselves. The guidance system used is also not known than the change in nose shape indicates its changed from the Fateh-110 at some degree.

Here are the images of the missile including the impact images:

 

[Eagle2009]

Some other things to think about it.

1. Trajectory- The Fateh-110 is believed to follow a Quasi-ballistic trajectory of sorts because its only real control surfaces are the small movable fins behind the warhead which means the missile is incapable of ever leaving the atmosphere since its not spin-stabilized like say a Scud (which uses Jet vanes instead of air vanes like the Fateh-110).
2. Speed- According to Iranian sources (the MODEX), the Fateh-110 has a terminal velocity of somewhere between Mach 4 and Mach 5 (roughly similar to a Scud).
3. Warhead size- There are various reports to how large the warheads for the various Fateh-110s is. There are reports stating 450, 600, and 650kg. We know the Zelzal rockets (for which the Fateh-110 is based) have warheads normally of 600kg and since the Fateh-110 seems to have at least a fairly decent guidance system its warhead is likely smaller so the 450kg warhead size is the most likely which if impacting a naval vessel at Mach 4 could do some serious damage to anything smaller than an large cruiser or amphibious assault ships/carriers.
4. Defenses- In theory, the SM-2MR and SM-3 should be able to intercept such a missile and perhaps even the Evolved Sea Sparrow could possibly do the job...In theory
5. Guidance- We still dont know what kind of guidance system it uses. I personally think a Electro-Optic Correlation system is possible but in other forums the idea of it using some kind of radar seeker has also been suggested. Using a EO Correlation system would be very accurate but against a moving target it has some major weaknesses whereas a radar seeker could be better against moving targets but is likely not as accurate.

 

[Firefly 2]

The flattened shape of the nosecone does suggest a kind of optical ( or IR) system, does it not?

 

[Eagle2009]

I personally think so since I dont see why if it was fitted with a radar seeker of some kind the original sharp nose cone couldnt be retained in this missile.

Some have suggested a IR seeker as well but unfortunately until we see a better shot of the nose of this missile we can't confirm anything yet simply that it has a different guidance system than the original Fateh-110.