Underground-basing of IRGC-ASF ballistic missile force

Above: line of IRGC-ASF MRBMs on TELs inside claimed underground ballistic missile force base

On 13OCT15, IRGC-ASF Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh permitted what he claimed were first ever imagery to be published of ballistic missile force bases bored into the "heart of a mountain," stating "Those who are happy about their options on the table should just take a look at [Iran’s] options under the table… Our power and capabilities are like an iceberg that floats above water and whose tip barely shows above the clear water.”

Hajizadeh further claimed numerous such tunnels exist across the country at a depth of 500 metres.

"The Islamic republic's long-range missile bases are stationed and ready under the high mountains in all the country’s provinces and cities," he said, according to Sepah News.

The commander said the missiles were ready to be launched from all over Iran, on the order of "the supreme commander-in-chief," Leader of the Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“This is a sample of our massive missile bases," Hajizadeh said, adding that "a new and advanced generation of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles" would start to replace the current weapons next year.

COMMENTARY: Contrary to the depiction that this is the first time Iran has published imagery of missile underground shelter complexes, there does appear to be examples shown in the past for both ballistic missiles on TELs (see below) as well as coastal defense cruise missiles on mobile launchers.

It appears the bores in the depicted tunnel complex are noticeably larger than those seen excavated by TBMs for Iran's light rail metro projects. However, additional construction techniques may have been specified and applied.

Also the timing of these ballistic missile announcements deserve consideration. If indeed the current Syrian offensive involves a significant IRGC ground force contingent, that is to say combat unit formations, perhaps the Iranian calculation involves publicity such as this touting the IRGC-ASF ballistic missile force for its strength as a deterrent, intended for both extra-regional as well as regional states supporting forces arrayed against the Syrian Arab Republic. This might especially be the case if the upcoming phase of the Syrian offensive is as destructive as some observers are expecting it to be.

Or perhaps the timing might better be explained as a consequence of Iran's ratification process for the JCPOA, as well as renderings specified on Iran's military industrial complex by the nuclear agreement and subsequent UNSC resolution.

IRGC-ASF Ghadr series MRBM mounted on TEL at underground ballistic missile force base

Giving a sense of scale for this section of claimed underground ballistic missile force base

Foreground: triconic warhead of Ghadr series MRBM on TEL

Background: wall surfaces of underground ballistic missile force base

IRGC-ASF Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh

What may have been previous published imagery of IRGC-ASF underground ballistic missile force base, here depicting a ballistic missile with the more advanced RV type. This still from a video broadcast weeks ago on IRIB television.

VIDEO:

Photos: Fars News Agency via Mashregh News

Test launch of Iran AIO 'Emad' medium-range ballistic missile

MODAFL on 11OCT15 announced the test launch of Emad ("Pillar") medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), featuring a newly designed reentry vehicle and more advanced guidance and control system.

"The Emad missile is able to strike targets with a high level of precision and completely destroy them," IRNA quoted Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan as saying.

The Emad appears to be a liquid-fuelled Shahab ("Meteor") variant, with claimed range of 2500 km, 100 meter CEP for accuracy and a 750 kg (1,653 pound) payload.

Iran's defense minister further stated IRGC-ASF ballistic missile force would take delivery of Emad MRBM some time in 2016.

COMMENTARY: Since the signing of JCPOA, a vocal group of Iranian lawmakers have been pressing for displays of Iranian ballistic missile technology. The political object advanced by these lawmakers has been to display Iran's sovereignty over matters of defense, regardless of continued sanctions.

Defense Minister Dehghan, while stating that ballistic missile drills and test launches are subject to defense requirements, nevertheless emphasized the sovereignty issue during today's MODAFL announcement, where he stated "To follow our defense programs, we don't ask permission from anyone...", meaning foreign powers.

Precision strikes by conventionally-armed ballistic missiles are capable of inflicting serious losses to an adversary during wartime,. A recent case in point: during the Yemen conflict on 04SEP15, an OTR-21 Tochka tactical ballistic missile hit an arms depot close to the positions of Pro-hadi forces, killing over 100 troops (52 UAE, 10 Saudi, 5 Bahraini, and an unspecified number of Yemeni troops loyal to the exiled prime minister).

During peacetime, a second-strike capability potentially rendered by precision-guided  ballistic missiles are useful in serving as a deterrent against attack.

For a country like Iran-- with a relatively weak air force-- indigenously constructed ballistic missiles offer a more economical and effective means of strike delivery than otherwise possible, due to sanctions and factors related to hostile foreign power alliances.

Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) Emad ("Pillar") MRBM serial "FVEA001"

AIO Emad MRBM in firing position on transporter erector launcher (TEL)

AIO Emad MRBM airborne during claimed successful test flight

Video still of AIO Emad MRBM on TEL prior to launch

Video still detail of AIO Emad's numbered fins, on TEL prior to launch

Video still of AIO Emad's mounted cameras, providing imagery during flight

IRIB video broadcast weeks ago previously depicting a similarly advanced guidance system on ballistic missile transported by TEL through IRGC-ASF underground fortified tunnel system.

PRESS TV VIDEO:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Sacred Defense Parade 2015 - Tehran

Iran media imagery of the Sacred Defense Parade held in Tehran on 22SEP15, commemorating the onset of the Iran-Iraq War that took place 35 years ago.

IRGC-ASF Ghadr-H ("Intensity-H) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), using TEL variant with canted trailer mounting arm and four rearward compartments.

IRGC-ASF Ghadr-H ("Intensity-H) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), using TEL variant with straight trailer mounting arm and three rearward compartments.

IRGC-N Khalij Fars (“Persian Gulf”) anti-ship ballistic missile on launch control vehicle

IRGC-N Qader ("Able") / Noor ("Light") coastal defense cruise missile (CDCM) launcher vehicle

Zelzal-1 ("Earthquake-1")  heavy artillery rocket using launcher vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz 2631 Actros series platform.

NEZAJA Naze'at 10-H artillery rocket using using launcher vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz 2624 platform

IRGC-ASF 3rd Khordad ("Third of Khordad") TELAR equipped with Taer-2 ("Bird") type missiles

Note: The Third of Khordad refers to the date Khorramshar was liberated from Baathist-Iraqi military occupation during the Iran-Iraq War.

IRGC-ASF Tabas TELAR with Taer-2 ("Bird") type missiles

Note: Tabas is the historical site and Iranian military operation ("amaliat tabas") against the failed Operation Eagle Claw rescue mission of 1980.

IRIADF 5Yu24M transporter/transloader carrying an S-200VE/SA-5 Gammon 5V28 round

IRIADF 5T53M type transport containers, 5V28 type missile of S-200 type SAM system

IRGC Kupol 9K331M1 TLAR, Tor M1 (NATO: SA-15C Gauntlet) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system

IRIADF Mersad ("Ambush") air defense system Ghader self-propelled SAM vehicle on Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck platform, with three Shahin ("Hawk") or Shalamche missiles.

Note: the town of Shalamche was one of the main sites of invasion into Iran during the Baathist-Iraqi launching of Iran-Iraq War.

IRIADF Mersad ("Ambush") air defense system Shalamche missiles and M192 type launcher, transported on Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck platform.

IRIADF MIM-23 HAWK type surface-to-air missile transport canisters

IRIADF Rapier surface-to-air missile system towed launcher

IRIADF Sepehr tactical vehicle equipped with top-mounted ZU-23-2 "Sergey" 23 mm anti- aircraft twin-barreled autocannon

IRGC-GF T-72S main battle tank, of a type recently provided to Iraq military forces in the war against ISIL

NEZAJA FV4204 Chieftain Mk 5 ARV Armored Recovery Vehicle

NEZAJA FV4205 Chieftain Mk 5 AVLB Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge

NEZAJA Fajr-5 ("Dawn-5") artillery rocket launcher vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck platform

IRGC-N Kashdom IV class inshore patrol craft fitted with AShM box launchers

IRGC-N FB RIB-33 inshore patrol craft (PBF) fitted with 107 mm MLR

IRGC-N catamaran craft inshore patrol boat (PBF)

IRGC-N Aviation HESA Bavar 2 ("Belief 2") ground effect vehicle, serial SN-3115

IRIAF Qassed ("Messenger") type electro-optically guided 2000 lb bomb

IRIAF "Cruise Missile" land attack cruise missile (LACM)

Nasr AGM variant and Fakur-90 AAM

IRIAF Asre-67 air-to-ground missile

NEZAJA special ground forces equipped with Misagh ("Covenant") type MANPADS, aboard Banihashem ATV 500s

NEZAJA special ground forces equipped with 9M113 Konkurs (“Contest”) anti-tank guided missile systems

NEZAJA Toyota Land Cruiser (J70) fitted with Moharram 6-barrel 12.7 mm Gatling-type machine gun

Arab-Iranian Tribal Basij members from Khuzestan province

Baluch-Iranian Tribal Basij members from Sistan and Baluchistan province

Qashqai-Iranian Tribal Basij members from southern or central Iran

Front row, left to right: Major General Ataollah Salehi, Major General Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi, President Hassan Rouhani, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan and Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari.

Foreign military observers present at Sacred Defense Parade 2015 in Tehran

IRIB VIDEOS:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, Majid Haghdoust and Hossein Razaqnejad at Mehr News Agency, Meghdad Madadi at Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Hossein Velayati at Fars News Agency