IRGC unveils Fattah ‘hypersonic' ballistic missile

The Fattah ballistic missile was displayed with a second re-entry vehicle (RV) and the motor that powers the RV. (Islamic Republic News Agency)

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled what it described as unique hypersonic ballistic missile that cannot be intercepted by existing missile defences on 6 June.

The IRGC claimed the Fattah missile that was unveiled during an event attended by President Ebrahim Raisi has a range of 1,400 km, is highly manoeuvrable, and can hit its target accurately at a speed of Mach 13–15.

“It will be impossible to counter a missile with such a speed,” said IRGC Aerospace Force command Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

The Fattah displayed at the event looked similar to later versions of the Fateh-110 family of solid-propellant ballistic missile that have fins on their re-entry vehicles (RVs) so they can steer towards their target in their terminal phase inside the Earth's atmosphere.

The missile was displayed next to what was identified as a spherical solid-fuel rocket motor that powers the RV after it separates from the main rocket motor. The motor reportedly has a movable nozzle that enables the RV to change direction.

A video was released that showed a launch of what looked like a Fateh-110-type missile and computer-generated imagery showing the RV using its motor to manoeuvre outside the Earth's atmosphere. The motor was shown still burning after re-entry even though the RV has aerodynamic control surfaces for steering as air density increases in its terminal phase.