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Iran-Israel: What you should know about hypersonic missiles, the war rocket faster than sound and difficult to detect

Since Israel attacked Tehran on June 12, Iranian missiles have repeatedly penetrated Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems– including the Iron Dome– causing widespread devastation across the Jewish state.

But how did Iran manage to breach the famed Israeli air defenses, which include some of the world’s most advanced and sophisticated anti-missile systems like Arrow 1, 2, and 3, the David’s Sling, and, of course, the Iron Dome short-range interceptor?

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed Wednesday that it had fired what it said were hypersonic “Fattah 1” missiles toward Israel to penetrate Israeli air defense systems.

So, what exactly are the hypersonic missiles? Is this a hypersonic glide vehicle, and any different from a ballistic missile? Here are what you should ou should know about hypersonic missiles, the war rocket faster than sound and difficult to detect, and that could rewrite the rules of Middle Eastern warfare.

What’s a hypersonic missile and how does it work?

First, let’s look at ballistic missiles. They are long-range weapons designed to deliver conventional or nuclear warheads by following a ballistic, or curved, trajectory.

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Launched using powerful rocket engines, these missiles shoot upwards into the upper atmosphere or even space, travelling at incredibly high speeds and crashing down fast.

They are powerful but their path are predictable. That makes them easier for systems like Israel’s Arrow or Iron drone to track and intercept.

Hypersonic missiles, on the other hand, fly at Mach 5 or faster – that’s five times the speed of sound. But the real advantage is that they can maneuver mid-flight. There are two types.

The hypersonic glider is launched by a ballistic missile, then separates about 50 kilometers. It coasted towards its target while zig-zagging to dodge defenses. It has no engine – just speed, altitude, and unpredictability.

The hypersonic cruise missiles power themselves with a ramjet engine (that relies on the high speed of the vehicle to compress incoming air for combustion). It flies lower but around 20 to 30 kilometers up, and can steer throughout its flight. The low altitude and maneuverability make it harder to detect and intercept.

Who has hypersonic missiles or is developing them?

Only two countries – U.S. and China are credited to have developed new-generation hypersonic missiles, but neither have used them in battle. Other nations such as Russia, North Korea and Pakistan have tested or used missiles with similar but less sophisticated technology.

“In the way that it is currently being used, the term ‘hypersonic’ often has little to no meaning and at the same time fuels competitive dynamics and a fear of missing out on the technology,” according to a 2022 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

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Has Iran attacked Israel with hypersonic missiles?

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed Wednesday that it had fired what it said were hypersonic “Fattah 1” missiles toward Israel.

The Fattah is a precision-guided, two-stage ballistic missile that uses solid fuel and a movable nozzle for advanced manoeuvrability. It has a range of 1,400 km (around 870 miles) and is capable of operating inside and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.

First unveiled in 2023, it is considered by Iranian officials to be a significant leap in the country’s missile programme.

Reports claim the missile is activated using a spherical propellant and can change course in all directions during flight, making detection and interception extremely difficult.

IRGC called the deployment of the Fattah missile a “turning point.” The solid-fuel missile reportedly penetrated Israeli defences and caused fires and damage in central parts of the country.

“The powerful and highly maneuverable Fattah missiles repeatedly shook the shelters of the cowardly Zionists tonight, sending a clear message of Iran’s strength to Tel Aviv’s warmongering ally, which continues to dwell in delusions and false assumptions,” the IRGC said.

With the Fattah as claimed, Iran has joined the ranks of countries that can produce operational hypersonic missiles.

Experts, Israel doubt Iran’s capabilities?
Most countries can’t make missiles that would weather the temperature and momentum stresses of these incredibly fast munitions, said Jack Watling, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.

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“This is a hugely complicated task. The Iranians don’t have the capacity to manufacture them,” he said.

Most of the missiles Iran has deployed against Israel travel at hypersonic speed, but are barely maneuverable, so are not considered true hypersonic missiles, said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at the Israeli think tank INSS and a former scientist in Israeli defense industries.

The missile it has launched, the Fattah 1 has had minimal success. Israel says Iran has fired over 400 missiles, with over 40 causing damage or casualties.

“Israel is able to intercept more than 95% of the missiles because speed is not crucial,” said Kalisky. “What is important is the maneuverability of the incoming missiles, and so far the maneuverability of these missiles is limited.”

He said Iran has two fast and maneuverable missiles, the Khorramshahr and Fattah 2, that would be “more difficult” to intercept. But neither have been deployed.

While Iran’s launching of hypersonic missiles at Israel is still up for debate, the fact remains that the weapon exists and can’t be predicted when launched, and could change everything in the ongoing escalation in the Middle East.

Starpotter

A Professional blogger and Entertainer. An extremely calm-headed guy.... Maybe naughty. lol

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