With a range of 900 miles, the Kheibar-Shekan missile can reach any point in Israel from Iranian soil.

On Monday, as part of Operation True Promise III, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired Kheibar multi-warhead ballistic missiles for the first time in the 21st wave of attacks against Israel.

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Also known as Qadr-H, the missile has multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capability, which not only increases its destructive power but also overwhelms missile defense systems by forcing them to engage multiple targets simultaneously.

In the history of weapons development, the introduction of MIRV technology marked a major shift in strategic balance. Previously, when a missile carried only a single warhead, any increase in an enemy’s missile stockpile could be countered by deploying a proportional number of interceptors.

With MIRVs, however, a single missile forces the defending side to use multiple interceptors, making offensive actions making offensive actions less costly than defensive ones. This cost-benefit advantage for the attacker represents a significant change in strategic planning.

The Kheibar-Shekan (“Destroyer of Kheibar”) belongs to Iran’s third generation of ballistic missiles and was first unveiled in 2022 as an advanced system. However, its recent strike on Israeli territory confirms what had previously been speculation about its true capabilities.

With a range of 1,450 kilometers (900 miles), the missile can reach any point in Israel from Iranian soil. More notably, its solid-fuel design allows for faster launch times compared to liquid-fuel missiles.

Additionally, its 550-kilogram warhead is maneuverable in its terminal phase, a key feature that enables it to evade Israeli defense systems like the Iron Dome or Arrow.

According to IRGC reports, the missile struck Israeli targets at speeds of Mach 2-3, complicating interception efforts. Its composite structure reduces radar detection, enhancing its effectiveness.

Iran’s arsenal also includes high-speed, low-altitude cruise missiles with high maneuverability, making them difficult to detect and intercept. These missiles pose a serious threat, particularly to vital military installations deep inside Israel.

In the June 23 attack, Iranian missiles struck targets from northern to southern Israel, including the Ashdod power plant, causing blackouts.

The combination of kamikaze drones like the Shahed-136 and Kheibar missiles formed a hybrid attack strategy designed to overwhelm Israeli defenses. With this strike, Iran has not only responded to previous aggressions but also demonstrated that its military technology matches its threats.

The IRGC emphasized that the “precision operation” will grow stronger and continue with new specialized tactics, exploiting weaknesses in the enemy’s air defense systems.

teleSUR / JF

Sources: Press TV – Tasnim

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