In the comments to the recent series of articles on the Iranian air defense system, the readers of the Military Review expressed the wish that a similar review on Iranian missiles designed to destroy land and sea targets be published. Today, those who are interested in this topic will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the creation of Iranian ballistic missiles.
The first operational-tactical missiles appeared in Iran in the second half of the 80s, they were North Korean copies of the Soviet 9K72 Elbrus complex with the R-17 missile (GRAU index - 8K14). Contrary to widespread misconception, this type of OTRK was never supplied to the DPRK from the USSR. Apparently, the Soviet leadership, given the close North Korean-Chinese ties, feared that Soviet missiles could hit the PRC. However, in 1979, North Korea was able to circumvent this ban by purchasing three R-17E missile complexes from Egypt. Also, Egyptian specialists helped prepare the calculations and handed over a set of technical documentation.
On the basis of missile systems received from Egypt in the DPRK, they began to forcefully create their own OTRK. This was facilitated by a simple and understandable for the North Koreans, the design of the rocket, created using the technologies of the mid-50s. All the base necessary for the reproduction of the R-17 rocket was in the DPRK. Since the mid-50s, thousands of Koreans have been trained and trained in the USSR, and with the help of the Soviet Union, metallurgical, chemical and instrument-making enterprises have been built. In addition, in North Korea, Soviet-made air defense missile systems and anti-ship missiles with liquid-propellant jet engines were already in service, in which the same fuel and oxidizer components were used as in the R-17 rocket. We must pay tribute to the North Korean scientists and designers, they did not eat their bread in vain and the tests of the first missiles at the Musudanni test site began in 1985, just 6 years after they got acquainted with the export version of the Soviet OTRK. Certain difficulties arose with the control system, the unreliable operation of the magnetic-semiconductor calculating device of the stabilization machine did not allow achieving stable shooting accuracy. But in the end, the DPRK managed to create its own analogue of the automation system, although less reliable and accurate than the Soviet equipment. Already in 1987, at the Pyongyang factory No. 125, the rate of release of missiles, designated "Hwaseong-5", was brought up to 8-10 units per month. According to expert estimates, about 700 missiles were built in the DPRK. Iran became the first foreign buyer of North Korean complexes.
In terms of its characteristics, the North Korean counterpart was very close to the famous Scud-B. According to reference data, "Hwaseong-5" with a launch mass of 5860 kg could throw a warhead weighing about 1 ton at a distance of up to 320 km. At the same time, observers noted that the reliability and accuracy of the destruction of missiles manufactured in the DPRK was worse than that of the Soviet prototype. Nevertheless, this is a completely combat-ready weapon against areal targets such as airfields, large military bases or cities. What was wrong has long been confirmed by the Houthis, who launched missile attacks on Saudi targets. The greatest threat can be posed by missiles equipped with "special" or chemical warheads.
North Korea, where independent production of OTRK was established, became the main supplier of missiles for Iran. But the first Soviet-made R-17E missiles hit Iran, most likely from Syria and Libya. Along with the missiles, Iran imported 9P117 launchers on the four-axle wheeled chassis of the MAZ-543A vehicle. Having received several hundred OTRKs, the Iranian crews used Hwaseong-5 at the final stage of the Iranian-Iraqi war during the “war of cities”. When the opposing sides, exhausted during the hostilities, attacked large cities. The exchange of missile strikes could not have any influence on the situation at the front, and led only to casualties among the civilian population.
In the late 80s, the R-17 missiles and copies created on their basis were already outdated, a lot of trouble was caused by refueling with toxic fuel and a caustic oxidizer, which required the use of special protective equipment. Handling these components has always been associated with great risks. After draining the oxidizer, to save the rocket's resource, it was necessary to flush and neutralize the remains of nitric acid in the tank and pipelines. But, despite the difficulties of operation, the relative simplicity of design and low cost of manufacture, with acceptable characteristics of range and accuracy, this rocket, which is primitive by modern standards, is still in service in a number of countries.
After the end of the Iran-Iraq war, cooperation between Iran and the DPRK in the development of missile technologies continued. With the help of the North Koreans, the Islamic Republic created their own version of the Soviet P-17. The rocket, known as the Shahab-1, had the same characteristics as the prototype. According to American data, the production of ballistic missiles in Iran began even before the end of the war with Iraq. The first version was followed by the Shahab-2 model in the mid-90s.
Shahab-2
According to its scheme, the rocket did not differ from the Shahab-1, but thanks to an increased fuel and oxidizer reserve by 200 kg and a boosted engine, the launch range reached 700 km. However, a number of experts suggest that such a range can be achieved with a lightweight warhead. With a standard warhead, the range will be no more than 500 km. According to some reports, Shahab-2 is nothing more than the North Korean Hwaseong-6. At present, Iran has several dozen mobile launchers and up to 250 Shehab-1/2 missiles.
On September 25, 1998, during a military parade, Shahab-3 was shown, in many ways repeating the North Korean No-Dong. According to senior Iranian military officials, this liquid-propellant rocket is capable of delivering a 900 kg warhead to a range of 1,000 km. Following Shahab-3, modifications Shahab-3C and Shahab-3D were adopted already in the 21st century. Although during the tests, which began in 2003, the missiles often exploded in the air, by 2006 the launch range, according to Iranian data, was brought to 1900 km. In this case, the missiles can be equipped with a cluster warhead containing several hundred fragmentation and cumulative submunitions. Shahab-3s are classified as medium-range ballistic missiles, and can attack targets in Israel and the Middle East.
Shahab-3
If the chassis based on MAZ-543A was used for the Shehab-1 and Shehab-2 units, the Shehab-3 missiles move in a closed trailer. On the one hand, this makes camouflage easier, but on the other hand, the passability of the towed conveyor is not very great. In 2011, it was confirmed that the Shehab-3 OTR with an increased launch range was placed not only on mobile transporters, but also in disguised fortified silo launchers.
Missiles of the Shehab-3 family with different warheads
According to information published in the Iranian media, in the Shehab-3 missiles built after 2006, thanks to the use of a new control system, it was possible to achieve a CEP of 50-100 meters. Whether this is actually so is unknown, but most Western experts agree that the real deviation from the aiming point can be 10-20 times greater than the declared one. The Shahab-3D modification uses a variable thrust engine with a deflected nozzle. This allows the rocket to change its trajectory and makes interception more difficult. To increase the launch range, later modifications of the Shehab-3 have the shape of a head that resembles a baby bottle or felt-tip pen.
On November 2, 2006, large-scale military exercises began in Iran, which lasted 10 days, during which dozens of missiles were launched, including Shehab-2 and Shehab-3. It is believed that the Iranian industry is capable of producing 3-4 Shehab-3 missiles per month, and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic may have 40-50 transporters and up to one and a half hundred missiles of this family. A further option for the development of liquid-propellant missiles of the Shahab-3 family was the Ghadr medium-range ballistic missile.
Photos taken during a military parade in Tehran show that the new MRBM is longer than the Shehab-3 and can have a launch range of more than 2,000 km. But the main difference from the earlier models was the reduced prelaunch preparation. While it takes 2-3 hours to transfer the Shehab-3 from the traveling position to the combat position and prepare for launch, the Qadr can start within 30-40 minutes after receiving the order. It is possible that in the rocket of this modification it was possible to switch to the "ampulization" of the propellant and oxidizer components.
MRBM Ghadr during a parade in Tehran
Although the Qadr, like the Shehab, is largely based on North Korean missile technology, Iranian specialists from SHIG (Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group) have significantly improved the basic design. Tests of the Ghadr MRBM began in 2004. In 2007, an improved modification of the Ghadr-1 appeared, which, apparently, was put into service.
On August 20, 2010, the Iranian news agency Irna reported the successful tests of the "next generation missile" Qiam-1. This ballistic missile is more compact than the Shahab-3, and, apparently, is intended to replace the OTR Shahab-1 and Shahab-2. It is noteworthy that with dimensions similar to the early Iranian OTPs, the Qiam-1 lacks external aerodynamic surfaces. This suggests that the missile is controlled and stabilized using a deflected nozzle and gas rudders.
Qiam-1
The range and weight of the Qiam-1 warhead were not disclosed. According to expert estimates, the launch range of this missile does not exceed 750 km with a warhead weighing 500-700 kg.
Since mobile launchers OTR and MRBM are very vulnerable, many missile bases with capital shelters have been built in the Islamic Republic. In part, the Iranians are using the North Korean and Chinese experience by building several long tunnels. Missiles in these tunnels are inaccessible for destruction by means of air attack. Each tunnel has several real and false exits, and it is extremely difficult to fill up each of them with a guarantee, as well as to destroy all concrete bunkers with one blow. The largest complex with capital shelters was built in Qom province, 150 km south of Tehran. More than 300 bunkers, dozens of tunnel entrances and heaped launch sites have been built here in a mountainous area on a 6x4 km section. According to Iranian representatives, similar missile bases, albeit smaller in size, are scattered throughout the country; there are 14 underground missile systems in Iran.
This was first officially confirmed on October 14, 2015, when a video was published in which the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace forces, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, visited an underground missile complex.
Some underground structures where ballistic missiles are stored and maintained are of such dimensions that launch is possible through specially punched holes in the vaults, which are usually covered with armored covers and camouflaged. In 2016, after straining relations with Saudi Arabia, it was announced that the missile storage facilities were overflowing, thus the authorities of the Islamic Republic hinted that they could get rid of the surplus by launching missiles at Riyadh.
Satellite image of Google Earth: capital shelters in Qom province
In addition, the Iranians are constantly playing cat and mouse by moving camouflaged trailers with medium-range missiles around the country at night. It is impossible to say for sure whether these goals are false or real. Many capital positions have been prepared for launching ballistic missiles in Iran. Often, for this, converted deployment sites are used for the outdated Chinese HQ-2 air defense systems (Chinese version of the C-75) or concreted sites near the missile garrisons. When starting from a pre-prepared position, the prelaunch preparation time is reduced, and there is no need to make a topographic reference to the terrain.
Satellite image of Google Earth: Shahab-3 missile base in East Azerbaijan
A typical example of this approach is a missile garrison near the town of Sardraud in eastern Azerbaijan. Here, until 2003, a part of the air defense was stationed, where the HQ-2 complexes were in service.
Satellite image of Google Earth: MRBM Shahab-3 at the former position of the SAM HQ-2
In 2011, the military base, which was used to store outdated weapons and ammunition, was reconstructed, new large hangars and recessed reinforced concrete shelters were built here. The dilapidated position of the HQ-2 air defense system was also put in order. Satellite images show that, since 2014, 2-3 MRBMs are constantly on alert at the positions.
The Iranian Safir launch vehicle has been created on the basis of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. The first successful launch of the Iranian satellite took place on February 2, 2009, when the Safir launch vehicle launched the Omid satellite into an orbit with an altitude of 245 km. On June 15, 2011, the upgraded Safir-1V rocket delivered the Rasad spacecraft into space. On February 3, 2012, the Navid satellite was delivered to the near-earth orbit by the same carrier. Then luck turned away from the Iranian missilemen, the next two "Safir-1V", judging by the satellite images, exploded on the launch pad or fell immediately after takeoff. The successful launch took place on February 2, 2015, when the Fajr satellite was delivered into orbit. According to Iranian data, this device is capable of maneuvering in space, for which gas generators are used.
Although the Iranians are very proud of their achievements, these launches have no practical significance and are still experimental and experimental. The Safir-1V two-stage launch vehicle with a launch weight of about 26,000 kg can put a satellite weighing about 50 kg into orbit. It is clear that such a small-sized device cannot work for a long time and is unsuitable for reconnaissance or relaying a radio signal.
Iran has high hopes for the new carrier Simorgh (Safir-2). The rocket is 27 meters long and has a launch weight of 87 tons. According to the design data, "Simurg" should put a load weighing 350 kg into an orbit with an altitude of 500 km. The first flight tests of the carrier took place on April 19, 2016, but their results have not been published. The United States expresses great concern about the development of missiles with such characteristics in Iran, since, in addition to launching satellites into orbit, carriers of this class may well be used to deliver warheads overseas. However, when using the "Simurg" in the role of an ICBM, it has a significant drawback - a long preparation time for launch, which makes it extremely unlikely to be used as a means of retaliatory strike.
All launches of carrier rockets and most of the test launches of the Shehab and Qadr MRBMs were carried out from the test sites in the Semnan province.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the launch pad of the "Safir" launch vehicle
Two large launch sites for heavier missiles have been built several kilometers northeast of the Safir launch pad. Apparently, one of them, where there are tanks for storing liquid fuel and oxidizer, is intended for the Simurg launch vehicle, and the other is for testing solid-propellant ballistic missiles.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the launch pad of the Simurg launch vehicle
Talking about the development of Iranian missiles, one cannot fail to mention such a person as Major General Hassan Terani Moghaddam. As a student, Moghaddam took an active part in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Moghaddam, unlike many religious fanatics, being an educated person, did much to strengthen Iranian artillery and missile units. Under his leadership, the first combat use of Iranian ballistic missiles took place in 1985, after which he was appointed commander of the missile units. At the initiative of Moghaddam, the development of the first Iranian solid-fuel tactical Naze'at missile and the reproduction of North Korean liquid-propellant missiles began. In the 90s, Moghaddam focused on creating missiles capable of reaching Israel and American military bases in the Middle East. At the same time, he sincerely believed that only the presence of long-range ballistic missiles equipped with non-conventional warheads would ensure the country's sovereignty and security in the future. In addition to liquid-propellant missiles, simpler and cheaper tactical solid-propellant Zelzal missiles were developed, designed to engage targets in the enemy's operational rear. The experience gained in the creation of solid-propellant missiles with a launch range of 80-150 km made it possible to proceed to the design of the Sejil MRBM in the future. Simultaneously with the creation of missiles intended for his own armed forces, Moghaddam had a hand in the fact that the missiles that were at the disposal of the militants of the Shiite movement Hezbollah became much more advanced. Terani Moghaddam died at the very dawn of forces on November 12, 2011. During a visit by a group of Iranian high-ranking military personnel to the Modares missile arsenal, in the vicinity of Tehran, a powerful explosion occurred there. Seventeen people died along with Moghaddam.
The main enterprises of the Iranian rocket-building company SNIG, where the missiles are being assembled, are located in the suburbs of Tehran. In early 2015, Iranian television broadcasted a reportage from the ceremony of handing over the Ghadr-1 and Qiam-1 missiles to the armed forces. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehgan stated that Iranian industry is able to fully satisfy all the needs of the army, and in the event of an attack on the country, the aggressors will receive a crushing response.
However, the further potential for improving liquid-propellant missiles based on the design of the Soviet R-17 is practically exhausted. In modern conditions, the use of liquid-propellant tactical and medium-range ballistic missiles looks like a real anachronism. Refueling with poisonous fuel and caustic inflammable substances with an oxidizing agent not only increases the preparation time for launch, but also makes the missiles themselves dangerous for calculations. Therefore, since the mid-90s, work has been carried out in Iran to create solid-fuel rockets. In 2007, information appeared that Iran had developed a new two-stage solid-propellant medium-range missile. A year later, it was announced about the successful tests of the Sejil MRBM with a launch range of 2000 km. Refinement tests lasted until 2011, when it was announced that an upgraded version of the Sejil-2 had been adopted.
Sejil-2 launch
In early 2011, during a verification test, two Sejil-2 missiles delivered inert warheads to the remote Indian Ocean, confirming the declared performance. The rocket weighing 23620 kg and a length of 17.6 meters was first shown at a military parade on September 22, 2011. Just like the Shehab-3 MRBM, the new solid-propellant-powered rockets are placed on a towed launcher. An important advantage of the Sejil is that the duration of prelaunch preparation is reduced several times compared to the Shehab missiles; moreover, solid-propellant missiles are much easier and cheaper to maintain. There is no reliable information on the scale and pace of deployment of the Sejil MRBM. Iranian television reports simultaneously showed a maximum of 4 launchers, but how many missiles are actually at the disposal of the Iranian military is unknown.
Many foreign observers believe that the Iranian leadership, by allocating significant resources for the creation of military missiles, is playing ahead of the curve. The Islamic Republic has already developed its own rocket-building school, and in the future we can expect the emergence of ballistic missiles with an intercontinental range. Along with the accelerated development of missile technologies in Iran, the nuclear program was actively developing until recently. Iran's desire to possess nuclear weapons almost led to an armed confrontation with the United States and Israel. Thanks to the efforts of international diplomacy, the Iranian "nuclear problem", at least formally, was transferred to a peaceful plane. But, one way or another, there is no doubt that work on this topic in Iran continues, albeit not as intensively as in the recent past. Iran already has reserves of highly enriched uranium, which creates the preconditions for the creation of nuclear explosive devices in the foreseeable future.
The Iranian top military-political and spiritual leadership in the past has repeatedly declared the need for the physical destruction of the State of Israel. Naturally, with this in mind, the Israelis react very sharply to attempts to create nuclear weapons and improve Iranian missiles. In addition, Iran is actively opposing itself to the Middle East oil monarchies, which are wholly dependent on the United States. Nevertheless, the United States and its allies refrain from attacking Iran, since a quick and bloodless victory over the armed forces of the Islamic Republic is impossible. With no chance of gaining the upper hand, Iran is quite capable of inflicting unacceptable losses on its adversaries. And the available missile arsenals must play a role in this. The Iranian ayatollahs, driven into a corner, may well give the order to strike with missiles, the warheads of which will be equipped with chemical warfare agents. According to information published on the official website of the SVR of the Russian Federation, industrial production of skin blisters and neuroparalytic poisons has been established in Iran. If missiles are used with toxic substances at American bases and large Middle Eastern cities, the consequences will be catastrophic. With a high degree of probability, one can assume that Israel, subjected to a chemical attack, will respond with a nuclear strike. It is clear that no one is interested in such a development of the situation, and the parties, despite the contradictions and outright hatred, are forced to refrain from rash steps.
In addition to tactical and medium-range missiles, Iran has a significant number of tactical and anti-ship missiles. But this will be discussed in the next part of the review.
