TEHRAN -- Iran has built a hypersonic ballistic missile capable of penetrating all defense system, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) aerospace commander said on Thursday.
“This missile has a high speed and can maneuver in and out of the atmosphere. It will target the enemy’s advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles,” Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said.
Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept.
While countries including the United States have developed systems designed to defend against cruise and ballistic missiles, the ability to track and take down a hypersonic missile remains a question.
The Islamic Republic has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of sanctions and embargoes.
Last week, Iran tested the Ghaem 100, its first three-stage space launch vehicle, which would be able to place satellites weighing 80 kg (180 pounds) in an orbit 500 km (300 miles) from the earth’s surface.
On Sunday, Iran’s defense ministry unveiled the upgraded version of the domestically-designed and manufactured Bavar-373 (Belief-373) surface-to-air missile system, and inaugurated the production line of the long-range Sayad B4 missile.
“Bavar-373 system was initially capable of destroying targets at 200 kilometers and now the upgraded system, aiming to attack targets at very long ranges, [including] ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft, and bombers can destroy targets at 300 kilometers,” Defense Minister Brigadier General Muhammad Reza Ashtiani said.
The missile system can engage up to six targets at a time and destroy them, he said, stressing that many technologically advanced countries aspire to possess such a system.
‘Enemies Scared’
IRGC chief Major General Hussein Salami said Friday the enemy is “scared” and “on alert” as it is sending regular messages to Iran, pleading not to be targeted by a military response.
“Now it is a number of days that enemies do not have peace and are on alert. They are scared and are regularly sending us messages that ‘do not target us’,” he said in a ceremony to commemorate the 11th martyrdom anniversary of Hassan Tehrani Moqaddam, known as the father of Iran’s missile program.
These messages, he said, have been delivered to Iran via several countries.
The enemy tries to engage Iran with internal conflict so as to deviate it from lofty horizons, added the commander, pointing to Western-led violent riots that erupted after the death of young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini.
“Under these circumstances, we targeted the anti-revolution groups in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, held a major military drill along Aras River, launched a satellite-carrying rocket, tested Bavar 373 missile system with a range of 300km, and we announced yesterday that we have developed a new missile that no missile defense system is able to confront it.”
Pointing to the large turnout of people in last week’s nationwide rallies to mark the U.S. embassy takeover anniversary, the commander said people have distanced themselves from enemies’ policies.
“The enemy always shatters itself by its own mistakes. This time also, we will defeat them using their mistake,” he said, adding, “The Iranian nation is changing the enemy’s calculations.”
The enemy wants a dependent Iran that has no religion but the Iranian nation is alive and shapes its own destiny, he stressed.
“The enemies are well aware that we will definitely respond to their interventionist and mischievous behavior,” General Salami said.
“They enemies should know that if they targeted one of us, we will target all of them. You targeted our Qassem Soleimani but we will target all of you and expel you from the region,” he sai.
“Those sitting in glass houses in Riyadh, Tel Aviv, New York, and Paris are designers of riots,” he said.
“By committing a mistake, the enemy imagined that it could confront the grandeur of a major global revolution through dispatching a number of deceived youths who are our dear children,” said the general, adding that the crimes of the enemy will not be left unanswered.