Iran: Firing Missiles into Indian Ocean

IRGC’s aerospace commander, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, told reporters in Tehran today that his forces has test-fired two long-range missiles into the Indian Ocean earlier this year, reportedly hitting their targets [IRNA, 9 July].

Gen. Hajizadeh reported that the missiles had a range of 1,900 km (1,180 miles) and were fired from the central Iranian province of Semnan. Hajizadeh said the missiles were fired in the Iranian calendar month of Bahman (21 January to 20 February).

During the Great Prophet 6 military exercises in June, Iran launched 14 surface-to-surface missiles, including Shahab-3, Shahab-2, Shahab-1 and Zelzal.

Great Prophet 6 Maneuvers (2)

Images from day two of Great Prophet 6

click to enlarge

Shahab-3 (Meteor-3) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)

Shahab-3 MRBM launch

Shahab-2 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)

Shahab-2 SRBMs and launch (2 fired in total)

Zelzal (Earthquake) SRBM fixed position triple launchers with support vehicle

Zelzal SRBM triple launchers and launch

Zelzal SRBM launch

Exhaust plumes from solid-fueled Zelzal SRBMs (9 fired in total)

IRGC/ASF missile crewmen

IRGC/ASF Commander reiterates Iran's missile policy

According to Reuters:

A senior Revolutionary Guard commander says Iran is capable of producing even longer range missiles than the ones it has now but won't make them because Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf are already within its reach.

[IRGC/ASF Brigadier General] Amir Ali Hajizadeh says the Guard's arsenal includes missiles with a range of up to 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers).

Hajizadeh claimed on Tuesday that Iran "possess the technology" but has "no intention of producing" the missiles with the over-2,000-kilometer range.

Previously, IRGC Commander Major General Jafari expressed the same policy for Iran's missile forces, as an element of Iran's defense based on deterrence.

Photos:
Mohammad Hassanzadeh at Fars News Agency
Mehr News Agency

Great Prophet 6 Maneuvers (1) - Silo Missile Launch

From PressTV:

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has unveiled underground ballistic missile silos on the first day of the Great Prophet 6 military maneuver.

"The silos are a part of the swift reaction unit of the [IRGC] missile brigade; missiles are stored vertically, ready to be launched against pre-determined targets," Fars News Agency quoted the IRGC spokesman in charge of the drills, General Asghar Qelich-Khani, as saying on Monday.

Qelich-Khani said the country has been using domestically-built missile silos for fifteen years and added that the newer generation silos are operational from a launch control center located far from the launch pads.

The main advantage of missile silos is the reduced launch time as the weapons need not be moved or aligned prior to launch.

On Sunday, Commander of the Aerospace Division of the IRGC Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh short-, medium- and long-range missiles, namely Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf), Sejjil (Baked Clay), Fateh (Conqueror), Qiam (Rising), Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles would be fired during the war games.

Hajizadeh stressed that Great Prophet 6 maneuver has completely defensive objectives and will be staged with the message of peace.

We tend to think of IRGC/ASF missile forces employed as a deterrent force affording potential second-strike capability against aggression by US and/or Israeli military forces. But there are other potential aggressors in the region such as the GCC or its elements. In addition, any aggressor (arguably other than the U.S.) will have its resources exceeded by such multiple means of deployment, providing a more expansive sense of deterrence.

Added to this is the technical advancement offered by silo development and construction, as well as providing another psychological deterrent against externally-applied prompting of Iran out of its self-imposed "Japan option" stance, that is to say going from nuclear weapon capable to a fully operational and deployed nuclear weapon.

And it provides greater leverage in any bargaining or posturing, among powers in the neighborhood.

One thing's for sure: it's unrealistic to assume these people are eventually going to back down or reverse themselves through externally applied coercion or intimidation tactics.

Video H/T: kiarash at IMF
YouTube rendering: redemptionway

Qiyam-1 SSM production and test-firing

According to Fars News Agency:

The Iranian Defense Ministry started supplying large numbers of 'Qiyam [Resurrection] 1' high-precision ballistic missiles to the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC/ASF] on Sunday.

The new missiles were supplied to the IRGC in a ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. 



Addressing the ceremony, Vahidi said that mass-production of Qiyam 1 missiles indicates Tehran's self-sufficiency in producing different types of missiles. 



Referring to the detailed features and specifications of the newly mass-produced ballistic missile, Vahidi said that Qiyam 1 is the country's first finless missile. 



The minister added that the very special design of the missile makes its detection by radars and air defense systems difficult. 

He said that omission of the fins from the design has increased the velocity of the missile and shortened the launch time.

Vahidi explained that the newly produced ballistic missiles are the product of hard work and extensive research by Iranian experts, adding that they will be delivered to the Iranian Armed Forces in an official ceremony in the near future.

click photos to enlarge

Qiyam-1 surface-to-surface missile (SSM) atop production stands

Qiyam-1 deployed on a Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)

Test-firing in the field of a Qiyam-1 SSM

Photos: Vahid Reza Alaei at Fars News Agency

Great Prophet 5 Maneuvers (6)

click photos to enlarge

Front to back: Fadjr-5 MRLS, Fadjr-3 MRLS, Noor AShM (?),

Noor AShM, HY-2 CD/AShM, HY-2 CD/AShM

Wolf in sheep's clothing: Noor (C-802) concealed single launcher inside medium commercial truck transport. Sidings removed, accordion roof pulled back, outriggers deployed, cab protected, FCS hoisted, internal box elevated and missile fired.

HY-2G Seersucker aboard mobile launcher. The missile is powered by a liquid-fuel rocket motor, with a solid-fuel rocket booster attached under the missile fuselage.

Missile and launcher in IRGC/ASF service are immaculate

Close up detail of solid fuel engine nozzle

HY-2G Seersucker missile launch

Booster rocket jetison

Fadjr-3 ("dawn-3") 240 mm MRLS in elevated firing position

Fadjr-3 rocket launch

Fadjr-5 ("dawn-5") 333 mm MRLS

Photos: Mahdi Marizad at Fars News Agency and Younes Khani at Mehr News Agency