Iran says it has developed a hypersonic ballistic missile that is capable of penetrating an enemy nation’s anti-missile system.
On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told reporters the hypersonic system is a “great generational leap” in the development of missile technology.
“I don’t think any technology would be found for 10 years capable of countering it,” Gen. Hajizadeh said, according to Iran’s official FARS news agency.
A hypersonic missile can fly more than five times the speed of sound and at lower altitudes than conventional missiles. They are also maneuverable, making them harder to track for air defense units.
The U.S. and other countries are pursuing the development of hypersonic missile systems. Russia says it has deployed hypersonic missiles multiple times in Ukraine.
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Iran’s announcement comes after Tehran has been accused of shipping drones to Russia to assist Moscow in its faltering invasion of its smaller neighbor.
“The Islamic Republic’s military doctrine holds that the country’s armed capability solely serves defensive purposes,” the FARS news agency said.
According to a report, The Islamic Republic of Iran has built a hypersonic ballistic missile, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace commander as saying.
“This missile has a high speed and can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere. It will target the enemy’s advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles,” commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying.
Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept.
However, there have been no reports of such a missile being tested by Iran, but it is irrefutable that the Islamic Republic has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes, and has portrayed its weapons capabilities many times.
Last week, Iran said it tested the Ghaem 100, its first three-stage space launch vehicle, which would be able to place satellites weighing 80 kg (180 pounds) in an orbit 500 km (300 miles) from the earth’s surface, according to state media.
The United States has called such actions “destabilising” as it believes space launch vehicles could be used to transport a nuclear warhead.
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