Iran’s hypersonic Fattah missile, capable of traveling at up to Mach 15, has breached Israeli air defenses, sparking a fresh round of military escalations between the two nations. The missile, which can change its flight path mid-air, has raised concerns among defense experts who note the growing difficulty of intercepting such advanced weapons.
The missile’s launch, part of Iran’s Operation True Promise III, marks a critical juncture in the regional standoff. It also highlights the rapidly evolving missile capabilities of Iran, which now joins the ranks of countries like Russia, China, and India in producing hypersonic weapons.
Fattah Missile: A Breakthrough in Iran’s Missile Program
The Fattah missile, first unveiled in 2023, represents a major leap for Iran’s military technology. This solid-fuel, two-stage missile is designed for precision and can maneuver mid-flight, making it especially difficult for traditional air defense systems to intercept, reports Economic Times.
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Fattah missile, with a range of approximately 1,400 kilometers, is capable of operating both inside and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The missile’s advanced maneuverability, enabled by its movable nozzle and spherical propellant, allows it to change direction in-flight, further complicating interception attempts by missile defense systems.
Iran’s missile capabilities have been steadily improving over the years, and the deployment of the Fattah missile highlights its ability to produce advanced weaponry that challenges regional powers like Israel. The IRGC views the missile’s deployment as a turning point, signaling Iran’s growing military strength and technological advancement.
The Challenge of Intercepting Hypersonic aMissiles
Hypersonic missiles like the Fattah present a major challenge to existing missile defense systems due to their speed and agility. Traveling at speeds between Mach 13 and Mach 15, such missiles are nearly impossible to track or intercept with current technology. According to defense analysts, the ability of the Fattah to make course corrections during its flight makes it even harder to defend against.
Traditional ballistic missiles, though fast, follow a predictable path, which allows defense systems to intercept them at certain points. Hypersonic missiles, by contrast, combine high speed with in-flight maneuverability, evading interception. This makes them highly effective at bypassing even the most sophisticated missile defense systems, such as those used by Israel.
