Iran did for the first time a hypersonic ballistic missile able to penetrate all defense systems. The disturbing announcement was made this Thursday by General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force.
“This hypersonic ballistic missile can counteract air defense shields and it can pass through all missile defense systems“said the general, quoted by the Fars news agency.
A hypersonic missile develops speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), approximately 6,000 km / h.
According to the Iranian military officer, “this missile aimed at enemy anti-missile systems represents a great generational leap with the already known missiles “.
The announcement had repercussions. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed concern after the Iranian announcement.
“These kinds of announcements increase concern and reinforce public attention about Iran’s nuclear program,” he told AFP agency, at the COP27 climate summit, which is taking place in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
The information comes after Iran admitted on Saturday that it sent it drones in russiabut he said he did it before the war in Ukraine.
The Washington Post said in mid-October that Iran was preparing to send missiles to Russia, information that was categorically denied by Tehran: “the information is totally false,” they said from Iran.
Different classes of missiles
Unlike known ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles fly at a low height, so they can hit targets faster. Height, speed and damage power, among the big differences.
A hypersonic missile is maneuverable, which makes it difficult to locate and defend.
the arms race
Several countries are trying to develop them: Russia, North Korea and the United States have announced tests in the past year, reviving fears of a new arms race.
The one with a notable advantage in the industry is R.usia, which has several types of such missiles; and in August it announced that it had deployed aircraft equipped with these hypersonic weapons in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave surrounded by NATO countries in northeastern Europe.
While countries like the United States have developed systems designed to defend against ballistic and cruise missiles, the ability to track and shoot down a hypersonic missile remains unknown.
The agreement reached with six major powers – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States – gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for a guarantee that it would not develop an atomic weapon. Iran has always denied it wants to get a nuclear weapon.
The deal fell apart after the unilateral US withdrawal from the deal in 2018, under a mandate from President Donald Trump.
The United States has repeatedly expressed concern that these launches could enhance Iran’s ballistic missile technology, extending to the possible delivery of nuclear warheads.
In March, the US government imposed sanctions on Iran’s missile activities.
Iran, shaken for two months by the demonstrations following the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurdish woman detained by the moral police, accuses its “enemies”, in particular the United States, of wanting to destabilize the Village.
On Wednesday, Iran warned countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia, that it would respond to any action aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic.
With information from AFP
Source: Clarin
