Iran claims that its missile industry is defensive in nature and designed to deter potential attackers, not to be used as an attack weapon. The Iranian space program is also a tool for the ballistic missile program
Iran launched this evening (Tuesday, 1/10/2024) about 180 ballistic missiles towards Israel, this in response to the fighting in Lebanon and the military escalation in the region. Following the attack, alarms were activated in various areas throughout Israel, including in the center and in Tel Aviv. It was reported that two people were slightly injured in the Tel Aviv area as a result of the launches. The IDF spokesman, Daniel Hagari, informed that most of the missiles were intercepted by the Israeli air defense system. Despite this, drops were detected in several arenas in the center of the country and in other areas, mainly in open areas.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards threatened that if Israel responded to the attack, Iran would launch another wave of missile launches. In response to the Iranian threat, the IDF announced that the Air Force would continue to attack targets in the Middle East.
General background on Iran's missile industry
Iran's missile industry began to develop in the 70s, but has since undergone significant upgrades following geopolitical developments in the Middle East, and especially following the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). During the war, Iran had to deal with Iraqi missile attacks on its cities, which pushed it to build an independent missile program. Now, Iran is considered one of the biggest powers in the region in the field of ballistic missiles, and it continues to expand and upgrade its capabilities.
Major missile series
Iran's missile industry includes several important models:
- Shihab-1: A liquid-propelled ballistic missile with a range of 300 km and a carrying capacity of 1,000 kg.
- Shihab-2: A liquid-propelled missile with a range of 500 km.
- Shihab-3: A medium-range ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 km.
- Fatah-110: A solid propelled ballistic missile with a range of 300 km.
- Sajil: A two-stage missile with a range of about 2,000 km.
- Imad: A ballistic missile with a range of 1,600 km with improved accuracy.
Despite the criticism, Iran claims that its missile industry is essentially defensive and designed to deter potential attackers, not to be used as an offensive weapon. Under the current conditions, it is difficult to imagine a situation in which Iran would agree to reduce its missile program, since these are considered an essential component of its national security strategy.
Strategy and development
The Iranian regime sees the missile program as an important tool not only for self-defense but also as a deterrent against its regional and international rivals. One of the main reasons for the Iranian insistence on continuing missile development is their desire to be "strategic equals" with countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel, which possess advanced aerial capabilities. Since the Iranian air force is limited due to the sanctions imposed on it, the missiles are considered an effective alternative to maintain the military balance.
The number of missiles and the ballistic capacity
It is estimated that Iran has an arsenal of about 3,000 ballistic missiles, most of them short and medium range. However, there are also missiles capable of reaching longer ranges, such as the "Khormshahr" series, which reaches a range of up to 3,000 km 1. This ability allows Iran to threaten more distant countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other targets in the region. All this under the definition that these missiles are intended to carry only conventional warheads, but the fear is that they could be converted to carry nuclear warheads in the future.
Production and expansion facilities
Recently, satellite photographs were revealed showing that Iran is expanding its production facilities at the Mudars and Khojir bases, located near Tehran. These expansions include the construction of dozens of new buildings, which are intended to improve the production and storage capabilities of ballistic missiles. This is one of Iran's main facilities for the production of ballistic missiles, including solid fuel propelled missiles, which are considered more logistically efficient and faster to operate.
External collaboration
One of the main factors in the development of the Iranian missile industry is cooperation with countries such as North Korea, Russia and China. This cooperation includes not only the supply of missiles but also the transfer of technological know-how, training and production technologies. For example, in the 90s, North Korea supplied Iran with missiles from the "Nodong" series, which became the basis for the "Shihab" program. Over time, Iran managed to establish an almost completely independent missile industry, which includes the ability to produce most of the missile components locally.
Regional and international responses
The development of the Iranian missile industry did not go quietly in the international arena. Many countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel, see Iran's missile development as a direct threat to regional stability. As a result, various economic sanctions have been imposed on Iran aimed at slowing missile development. However, these sanctions do not seem to have had a significant impact on progress. , and Iran continues to invest in its missile industry. Nevertheless, there are concerns that once Iran succeeds in developing longer-range and more accurate missiles, it You can also directly threaten more distant countries.
The look to the future
According to the experts, the Iranian regime is unlikely to stop developing its missile industry in the near future. The missiles are an important element of the Iranian defense strategy, and they are also seen as a symbol of national technological power. As the technology in this field continues to advance, we can expect the continued upgrading of Iran's ballistic capabilities, which will cause great concern among the countries of the region and the entire world.
The Iranian space program, originally established to advance Iran's capabilities in the field of satellites and missiles, is considered an important part of the national effort to improve the country's technological and security capabilities. Its main goal was to launch satellites into low orbit around the Earth and achieve technological independence in this field.
The development of the Iranian space program
Iran's space program began with the launch of the Safir SLV, a rocket based on Russian and North Korean technology. After that, Iran developed the Simorgh rocket, which is a technological advance and enables the launch of heavier payloads into low orbit. The development of the Simorgh, originally designed to launch satellites weighing up to 250 kilograms into an orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers, marks a significant advance in Iran's missile technology.
In August 2017, Iran attempted to launch its first satellite using the Simorgh, but the launch failed shortly after liftoff. Despite this, the Iranians stated that the test was successful, and they are expected to continue with further attempts to launch heavy satellites.
military potential
The main concern about the Iranian program stems from the possibility that the space program could serve as a basis for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The Simorgh rocket uses technologies common to ballistic missiles, and experts estimate that this type of missile could carry a heavy warhead to a range of up to 7,500 kilometers, covering all of Europe and Asia. This fact, along with the cooperation between Iran and North Korea, raises concerns that the Iranian space program is not intended for civilian purposes only.
Stopping the manned space project
Under the Ahmadinejad administration, launching a manned spacecraft into orbit was considered, but the high costs and organizational problems meant that the plan was shelved. Instead, Iran decided to focus on satellite launch projects.
In conclusion, the Iranian space program continues at full strength despite the technical failures and temporary freezes. Technological progress, especially in the development of the Simorgh, continues to worry many countries in the world, due to the possibility that information and technologies from the program will be used to develop advanced weapons systems.
The connection to the space program
The relationship between Iran's space program and the country's ballistic missile program is close, with many of the technologies and facilities shared by both programs. The Iranian space program provides Iran with a platform to experiment with technologies that help improve its ballistic missiles. The latest launch of a satellite by a domestically made rocket raises concerns that Iran is also using this program as a cover for developing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technologies.
Satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and ballistic missiles share many technical features. For example, the use of liquid fuel-based engines in missiles such as the Simorgh and the Safir is a key element in the space program, but is also important in the development of long-range ballistic missiles. According to experts, the technologies required to launch satellites into geostationary orbit are exactly the same technologies required to develop warheads for intercontinental missiles.
