what type of missiles does iran have
Iran has one of the largest and most diverse missile arsenals in the Middle East, including short‑range and medium‑range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and space‑launch rockets, with growing emphasis on precision and solid fuel.
Key categories of Iranian missiles
- Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) – up to about 1,000 km range.
Examples include:
* Shahab‑1 and Shahab‑2 (liquid‑fueled, a few hundred km range).
* Qiam‑1 / Qiam‑2 (improved, finless SRBMs, roughly 700–1,000 km).
* Fateh‑110 and Fateh‑313 families (solid‑fueled, 200–500 km, used for precision strikes in the region).
* Zolfaghar, Dezful, Raad‑500 and similar missiles, generally 500–1,000 km and designed for better accuracy and mobility.
- Medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) – roughly 1,000–2,000+ km.
These can reach targets across the Middle East and parts of Europe:
* Shahab‑3 and its variants (Emad, Ghadr‑1), typically 1,300–1,900 km range.
* Khorramshahr series, advertised around 2,000 km, with large warhead capacity.
* Sejjil, a solid‑fuel MRBM around 2,000 km range.
* Newer named systems such as Haj Qasem and Kheybar Shekan, also in the ~1,400–1,450 km class with improved precision.
- Hypersonic / advanced ballistic missiles (claimed)
- Iran has unveiled missiles called Fattah‑1 and Fattah‑2, described as hypersonic systems with reported ranges of about 1,400–1,500 km and very high speeds; outside analysts note that many of these claims are difficult to independently verify.
- Cruise missiles (land‑attack and anti‑ship)
Iran fields several land‑attack cruise missiles and anti‑ship cruise missiles for use from ground, ship, and aircraft platforms.
Examples:
* Ya‑Ali (land‑attack cruise missile, about 700 km).
* Soumar and Hoveyzeh (long‑range land‑attack cruise missiles; Soumar is often estimated in the 2,000–3,000 km class).
* Ra’ad and similar anti‑ship cruise missiles, a few hundred km range, used to threaten naval and commercial traffic.
- Anti‑ship and specialized variants
- Khalij Fars (a Fateh‑110‑based anti‑ship ballistic missile), Hormuz (anti‑radar variant), Zolfaghar Basir (anti‑ship variant), optimized to target ships and radar systems in the Gulf region.
- Space launch vehicles (SLVs)
While not operational weapons, Iran also uses multi‑stage rockets such as Safir and Simorgh to place satellites into orbit, drawing on similar technologies as long‑range missiles.
Overall picture
- Iran relies heavily on ballistic missiles as a core element of its deterrence and regional power projection, in part because its air force is comparatively weak and outdated.
- Its arsenal emphasizes:
- Solid fuel (for faster launch, easier mobility).
- Road‑mobile launchers.
- Improved guidance for higher precision, especially in the Fateh, Zolfaghar, and newer MRBM lines.
- Western and regional governments generally assess that Iran now has thousands of missiles across these classes, making it the largest stockpile in the Middle East, though exact numbers and performance for the newest types remain uncertain.
| Missile / family | Type | Approx. range | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shahab‑1 / Shahab‑2 | SRBM | ~300–500 km | [5][1]Early liquid‑fuel Scud derivatives, short‑range regional use | [1][5]
| Qiam‑1 / Qiam‑2 | SRBM | ~700–1,000 km | [5][1]Finless design, improved re‑entry and accuracy | [1][5]
| Fateh‑110 / 313 family | SRBM | ~200–500 km | [5][1]Solid fuel, road‑mobile, precision strikes in region | [1][5]
| Zolfaghar / Dezful / Raad‑500 | SRBM | ~500–1,000 km | [5][1]Newer solid‑fuel, lighter composite bodies, better guidance | [1][5]
| Shahab‑3 (Emad, Ghadr) | MRBM | ~1,300–1,950 km | [5][1]Backbone of longer‑range force, various improved variants | [1][5]
| Sejjil | MRBM | ~2,000 km | [5][1]Solid‑fuel, two‑stage, strategic regional reach | [1][5]
| Khorramshahr series | MRBM | Up to ~2,000 km | [5]Large warhead, fewer missiles needed per target | [5]
| Haj Qasem, Kheybar Shekan | MRBM | ~1,400–1,450 km | [9][7]Advertised as high‑precision, newer generation designs | [9][7]
| Fattah‑1 / Fattah‑2 | Hypersonic‑claimed MRBM | ~1,400–1,500 km | [7][9]Iran claims maneuverability and very high speeds; details unverified | [9][7]
| Ya‑Ali, Soumar, Hoveyzeh | Land‑attack cruise | ~700–2,000+ km | [1][5]Low‑flying, used to bypass some defenses | [1][5]
| Ra’ad, Khalij Fars, Hormuz | Anti‑ship / anti‑radar | Few hundred km | [3][5][1]Target ships or radars in Gulf/Arabian Sea | [3][5][1]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
