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Source: This post on Fattah-2 Hypersonic Missile has been created based on the article “Fattah-2: How Iran used hypersonic missile to pierce Israel’s air defence” published in India Today on 8th October 2024.
Why in news?
Recently, Iran launched a significant missile offensive utilizing the Fattah-2 hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile for the first time in combat. Over 180 ballistic missiles, including the advanced Fattah-2 were fired at Israel.
About the Fattah missile
1. Developed by: It was developed by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is part of the Iranian Armed Forces.
2. Aim: It aims to strengthen Iran’s deterrence capabilities, enhance security, and foster sustainable peace within the region.
3.Launched on: It was officially announced in November 2022. It was launched in June 2023 after a series of successful tests. It was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, alongside the Khorramshahr 4 ballistic missile.
Features of the missile
1. It features high speed, stealth design, and maneuverability within and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. It can penetrate advanced missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome utilized by Israel.
2. Technological Advancement: It positions Iran as one of the few countries to possess hypersonic missile technology. Hypersonic missiles can travel over five times the speed of sound and are difficult to intercept due to unpredictable flight paths.
3. Design Features of the Fattah Missile: It is capable of reaching speeds between Mach 13 and Mach 15 (approximately 15,000 km/h). Its current range of 1,400 km, with potential upgrades extending up to 2,000 km.
4. Trajectory Control: It is equipped with a mobile nozzle that allows trajectory adjustments during flight. It can modify movement direction, enabling lateral, vertical, rotational, and integrated shifts within the upper atmosphere.
5. Stealth and Communication: The friction at high speeds creates superheated particles around the missile, complicating radar detection and radio communications.
6. Engine and Propulsion: It operates with a second-stage movable nozzle and solid fuel propellant for high-speed tactical performance. It get activated by a spherical propellant within a range of several hundred kilometers from the target.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology
