Not Only the Range and Carrying Capacity of Its Warheads, This Feature Makes Iran's Newly Launched Kheibar Missile Able to Terrify Enemies

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani during the launch of the new Kheibar missile. (Wikimedia Commons/Tasnim News Agency/Erfan Kouchari)

JAKARTA - Iran is again showing off its capabilities in the field of defense industry technology, by launching a new missile that is equipped with a series of up-to-date features, even claimed to be one of the most sophisticated domestically designed missiles.

Named Kheibar, this is the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr missile, a medium-range ballistic missile that Iran first tested in January 2017, capable of reaching targets as far as 2.000 kilometers while carrying a 1.800 kilograms warhead.

Meanwhile, despite having the same range as the Khorramshahr, the Kheibar missile is 'only' capable of carrying a warhead weighing 1.500 kilograms. But, that does not mean reducing the fear of this missile.

It is known, the Khorramshahr class missile family is known for its unique guidance and control system during the mid-flight phase.

In addition, the Kheibar missile also has a very short preparation and launch time.

This feature allows the missile to control and adjust its trajectory outside the Earth's atmosphere, and disable the guidance system upon entering the atmosphere, thus providing complete immunity against electronic warfare attacks, as quoted by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency on May 27.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani during the launch of the new Kheibar missile. (Wikimedia Commons/Mehr News Agency/Ehsan Naderipour)

Thanks to this advanced control system, the Kheibar missile's warhead does not require the typical thin wing arrangement, which in turn allows the missile to pack a heavier explosive load, the news agency continued.

"Our message to Iran's enemies is, we will defend the country and its achievements. Our message to friends, we want to help regional stability," said Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, reported Reuters.

Iran says its weapons are capable of reaching bases of its arch-rivals Israel and the United States in the Gulf and Middle East regions.

Meanwhile, state news agency IRNA said the name Kheibar refers to a Jewish castle that was raided by Muslim warriors in the early days of Islam. Its quicker preparation and launch times make it a tactical weapon as well as a strategic one.

In addition, the extended missile range, advanced guidance and control systems to improved structural features further confirms Iran's status as one of the world's missile powers.

It is not surprising that experts from the Aerospace Industry Organization of the Iranian Ministry of Defense claim that the Kheibar is one of the most advanced missiles designed in the country.