Iran's hypersonic missile is a next-generation weapon system designed to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, capable of maneuvering during flight to evade missile defenses and strike high-value targets with precision. The term "Hypersonic" refers to a speed at least five times the speed of sound (also called Mach-5), i.e. around a mile per second. These missiles are also more maneuverable, which allows them to evade air defence systems more easily. The two types of hypersonic weapons systems are Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles. The HGVs are launched from a rocket before gliding to the intended target, while HCMs are powered by air-breathing high-speed engines or 'scramjets' after acquiring their target.

Iran reportedly launched its Fattah‑1 hypersonic ballistic missile—capable of flying at Mach 13–15 and maneuvering mid‑flight—targeting Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa during recent retaliatory strikes. 

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Why In The News?

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it fired a Fattah-1 'hypersonic' missile at Israel. Notably, the Fattah missile, which was first unveiled in 2023, was named by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Dozens of Fattah-1 missiles had earlier been fired at Jerusalem during Iran's attack on Israel on October 1, 2024. However, this seems to be the first time the rocket has been used in the ongoing conflict.

• A hypersonic missile is a weapon system that flies at least at the speed of Mach 5, i.e. five times the speed of sound and is manoeuvrable.
• The manoeuvrability of the hypersonic missile is what sets it apart from a ballistic missile, as the latter follows a set course or a ballistic trajectory.
• Thus, unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles do not follow a ballistic trajectory and can be manoeuvred to the intended target.
• The two types of hypersonic weapons systems are Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles.
  • The HGV is launched from a rocket before gliding to the intended target; at the same time, the hypersonic cruise missile is powered by air-breathing high-speed engines or 'scramjets' after acquiring its target.

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Fattah-1 - Iran’s Hypersonic Missile

Fattah-1 is an Iranian hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and unveiled in June 2023. According to Iran, its high maneuverability and speed help it to evade missile defence systems. In November 2023, Iran unveiled a newer version of the missile, Fattah-2. The rocket has been reported to have the capability to carry nuclear warheads should Iran further pursue its nuclear program. According to Iran, it can maneuver in and out of the atmosphere and is capable of bypassing missile defences.

Key Features

• Type: Hypersonic Ballistic Missile
• Name: Fattah-1
• Speed: Mach 13 to Mach 15 (13–15 times the speed of sound)
• Fuel Type: Two-stage solid-fuel propulsion
• Range: Estimated medium-range strike capability
• Operator: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Strategic Importance

• Military Edge: Enhances Iran's deterrence against technologically advanced adversaries.
• Geopolitical Signal: Showcases self-reliance in missile tech amidst sanctions.
• Conflict Escalation: Its recent reported use against Israeli cities heightens global security concerns.

Global Reaction

• Concern from Western Powers: U.S., EU, and Israel view it as a destabilizing threat.
• Regional Tension: Adds complexity to Middle East conflict dynamics, especially regarding missile defense.

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History Of Iran’s Hypersonic Missile

On 10 November 2022, during the 11th anniversary of the death of Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, known as the "father of Iranian missiles", Iran announced it had built an advanced hypersonic ballistic missile, calling it a "major generational leap". Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Force commander, said the missile has a high velocity and can maneuver below and above the Earth's atmosphere. He said, "it can breach all the systems of anti-missile defence" and added that he believed it would take decades before a system capable of intercepting it is developed. 

The missile was unveiled in a ceremony on 6 June 2023.

Iran may have used Fattah-1 missiles in its strikes against Israel on 1 October 2024. According to Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, researchers from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) have identified Fattah-1 debris from both the 1 October strikes as well as the April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel.

An Overview Of Iran’s Hypersonic Missile

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Hypersonic Missile: Iran - Israel Conflict

The military conflict between Israel and Iran intensified further on Wednesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of hostilities as both sides continued to pound fresh missile attacks at each other. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) even claimed to have launched a Fattah-1 hypersonic missile at Israel, the first use of this missile in the ongoing conflict, the BBC reported.

Explosions were reported over Tel Aviv following early morning missile barrages from Iran, while Israeli airstrikes continued near Tehran, targeting suspected military infrastructure.

What are the advantages of hypersonic missiles?

• They can enable responsive, long-range strike options against distant, defended or time-critical threats (such as road-mobile missiles) when other forces are unavailable, denied access, or not preferred.
• Conventional hypersonic weapons use only kinetic energy, i.e. energy derived from motion, to destroy unhardened targets or even underground facilities.

Are hypersonic missiles detectable in flight?

• Hypersonic weapons can challenge detection and defence due to their speed, manoeuvrability and low altitude of flight.
• Ground-based radars or terrestrial radars cannot detect hypersonic missiles until late in the flight of the weapon.
  • This delayed detection makes it difficult for the responders to the missile attack to assess their options and to attempt to intercept the missile.

What is the Indian Hypersonic Missile Programme?

• India is also developing an Indigenous, dual-capable (conventional as well as nuclear) hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle Programme. It has successfully tested a Mach 6 scramjet in June 2019 and September 2020.
• India operates approximately 12 hypersonic wind tunnels and is capable of testing speeds up to Mach 13.

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