Shahab-3
Encyclopedia
The Shahab-3 is a medium-range ballistic missile
(MRBM) developed by Iran
and based on the Nodong-1
. The Shahab-3 has a range of 1280 kilometres (795.4 mi); a MRBM variant can now reach 1930 kilometres (1,199.2 mi). It was tested from 1998 to 2003 and added to the military arsenal on July 7, 2003, with an official unveiling by Ayatollah
Khamenei on July 20.
The forerunners to this missile include the Shahab-1 and Shahab-2
. The then-Iranian Defense Minister Admiral Shamkhani
has denied that Iran plans to develop a Shahab-4
. Some successors to the Shahab
have longer range and are also more maneuverable.
Operating under the Sanam Industrial Group (Department 140), which is part of the Defense Industries Organization
of Iran, the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), led the development of the Shahab missile.
The new re-entry vehicle uses a triconic aeroshell geometry (or 'baby bottle' design) which improves the overall lift to drag ratio for the re-entry vehicle. This allows greater range maneuverability which can result in better precision. The triconic design also reduces the overall size of the warhead from an estimated 1 metric ton to 700 kg (1,543.2 lb).
The rocket-nozzle control system allows the missile to change its trajectory several times during re-entry and even terminal phase, effectively preventing pre-calculated intercept points of radar systems - which is a method nearly all ABM
systems use these days. As a high-speed ballistic missile and pre-mission fueling capability, the Shahab-3 has an extremely short launch/impact time ratio. This means that the INS/gyroscope guidance would also remain relatively accurate until impact (important, given the fact that the gyroscopes tend to become more inaccurate with longer flights). The CEP
is estimated to be at 30–50 m (98.4–164 ft) or less. However, the accuracy of the missile is largely speculative and cannot be confidently predicted for wartime situations.
These improvements would greatly increase the Shahab-3B's survivability against ABM systems such as Israel's Arrow 2 missile as well as being used for precision attacks against high value targets such as command, control and communications centres.
, Tehran
in a parade held to commemorate the Iranian Sacred Defence Week
.
Iran has conducted at least six test flights of the Shahab 3. During the first one, in July 1998, the missile reportedly exploded in mid-air during the latter portion of its flight; U.S. officials wondered whether the test was a failure or the explosion was intentional. A second, successful test took place in July 2000. In September 2000, Iran conducted a third test, in which the missile reportedly exploded shortly after launch. In May 2002, Iran conducted another successful test, leading then-Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani
to say the test improved the Shahab-3's "power and accuracy." Another successful test reportedly occurred in July 2002. On July 7, 2003, the foreign ministry spokesman said that Iran had completed a final test of the Shahab 3 "a few weeks ago" that was "the final test before delivering the missile to the armed forces," according to a New York Times report.
On November 9, 2004, Shamkhani said Iran could mass-produce the missile.
On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military war games
. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2
and Shahab-3 missiles. The missiles had ranges from 300 km (186.4 mi) to up to 2000 km (1,242.7 mi)...Iranian experts have made some changes to Shahab-3 missiles installing cluster warhead
s in them with the capacity to carry 1,400 bombs." These launches come after some United States
-led military exercises in the Persian Gulf
on October 30, 2006, meant to train for blocking the transport of weapons of mass destruction
.
exercise, within a few weeks of a recently concluded military exercise by Israel.
Other missiles fired include the surface-to-surface Fateh-110
and Zelzal missiles. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
air and naval units conducted these tests in a desert location. Air Force commander Hossein Salami advised that Iran was ready to retaliate to military threats, saying "We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch."
One day later, on July 9, 2008, Iran once-again fired a version of the Shahab-3, amongst other missiles, which officials have said has a range of 1250 miles (2,011.7 km) and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. These tests were conducted at the Strait of Hormuz
, which Iran has threatened to shut down traffic into if it is attacked. Independent national security webblog, ArmsControlWonk.com, analyzed Iranian launch footage and concluded that Iranian claims of testing an upgraded Shahab missile were unfounded. A senior Republican Guard commander said Iran would maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Gen.
Mohammad Hejazi
, chief of the Guards' joint staff, called the missile tests a "defensive measure against invasions." He also said, Iran will not jeopardize the interests of neighboring countries. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz
, the French news agency Agence France-Presse
which published pictures from the missile test reported that "Iran had apparently doctored photographs of missile test-firings and exaggerated the capabilities of the weapons" and that an additional missile was added afterwards to cover up a failed launch."
In a sign of commercial fallout from the second missile test in two days, the French oil company Total S.A.
announced the conditions were not right to invest in Iran as major oil companies have been under increasing political pressure from the United States and its allies over their activities in Iran amid mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
To ratchet up the pressure further, Israel also showed off its latest spy plane in what is seen as a display of strength in response to Iranian war games (missile tests).
The test on 8 July 2008 caused more indignation around the world as the case for war is being ratcheted up on both sides, despite denials. The tests were seen widely as a response to Israeli aerial war games staged earlier in the month. Ali Shirazi, representative of the Revolutionary Guards naval forces said, warned that Iran would "set fire" to Israel and the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf as its first response to any pre-emptive strike by America or Israel over its nuclear program.
Brig. Gen.
Hoseyn Salami, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force
, said: "Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy." He also made the statement that "enemy targets are under surveillance." Speaking on a visit to Malaysia on the first day of the tests, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the possibility of an attack by the US or Israel as a "joke."
Gen.
Mohammad Hejazi
, chief of the Guards' joint staff, called the missile tests a "defensive measure against invasions." He also said that Iran will not jeopardize the interests of neighboring countries.
, Shahab-3, Shahab-4
, Shahab-5
, and Shahab-6
.
Medium-range ballistic missile
A medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
(MRBM) developed by Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and based on the Nodong-1
Nodong-1
The Rodong-1 is a single stage, mobile liquid propellant medium range ballistic missile developed by North Korea...
. The Shahab-3 has a range of 1280 kilometres (795.4 mi); a MRBM variant can now reach 1930 kilometres (1,199.2 mi). It was tested from 1998 to 2003 and added to the military arsenal on July 7, 2003, with an official unveiling by Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Khamenei on July 20.
The forerunners to this missile include the Shahab-1 and Shahab-2
Shahab-2
The Shahab-2 is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile.The missile has a CEP of 50 m. On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles...
. The then-Iranian Defense Minister Admiral Shamkhani
Ali Shamkhani
Ali Shamkhani is an Iranian admiral and politician. He was the Minister of Defense from August 19, 1997 until August 24, 2005 and was replaced by Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar.He is born in 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, he earned a B.S...
has denied that Iran plans to develop a Shahab-4
Shahab-4
The Shahab-4 aka IRIS liquid propelled missile is an alleged, and possibly fictional, programme for Iran's first missile to bring satellites into orbit....
. Some successors to the Shahab
Ghadr-110
The Ghadr-110 is a medium-range ballistic missile designed and developed by Iran. The missile has a range of 2,500 km to 3,000 km. The Iranian Armed Forces first displayed the missile to the public at an annual military parade to mark the Iran-Iraq war.The Ghadr-110 is an improved version of the...
have longer range and are also more maneuverable.
Operating under the Sanam Industrial Group (Department 140), which is part of the Defense Industries Organization
Defense Industries Organization
The Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization (DIO; Persian: Sasadjah (Sazemane Sanaye Defa) is a conglomerate of companies run by the Islamic Republic of Iran whose function is to provide the military of Iran with the necessary...
of Iran, the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), led the development of the Shahab missile.
Shahab-3B
The Shahab-3B differs from the basic production variant. It has improvements to its guidance system and warhead, a few small changes on the missile body, and a new re-entry vehicle whose terminal guidance system and rocket-nozzle steering method are completely different from the Shahab-3A's spin-stabilized re-entry vehicle.The new re-entry vehicle uses a triconic aeroshell geometry (or 'baby bottle' design) which improves the overall lift to drag ratio for the re-entry vehicle. This allows greater range maneuverability which can result in better precision. The triconic design also reduces the overall size of the warhead from an estimated 1 metric ton to 700 kg (1,543.2 lb).
The rocket-nozzle control system allows the missile to change its trajectory several times during re-entry and even terminal phase, effectively preventing pre-calculated intercept points of radar systems - which is a method nearly all ABM
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
systems use these days. As a high-speed ballistic missile and pre-mission fueling capability, the Shahab-3 has an extremely short launch/impact time ratio. This means that the INS/gyroscope guidance would also remain relatively accurate until impact (important, given the fact that the gyroscopes tend to become more inaccurate with longer flights). The CEP
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
is estimated to be at 30–50 m (98.4–164 ft) or less. However, the accuracy of the missile is largely speculative and cannot be confidently predicted for wartime situations.
These improvements would greatly increase the Shahab-3B's survivability against ABM systems such as Israel's Arrow 2 missile as well as being used for precision attacks against high value targets such as command, control and communications centres.
Shahab-3C & D
Little is known about Shahab-3C and Shahab-3D. From what can be gathered, the missiles have an improved precision, navigation system, and a longer range. The missiles were indigenously developed, and are being mass produced. Iran has a production capacity of 70 units per year.History and tests
The Shahab-3 was first seen in public on September 25, 1998, in Azadi SquareAzadi Square
Azadi Square is a city square in Tehran, Iran.It has an area of about 50,000 m2, plus adjacent areas, and is the largest square in Tehran and the second largest in Iran, being smaller than Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan....
, Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in a parade held to commemorate the Iranian Sacred Defence Week
Iranian Sacred Defence Week
Iranian Sacred Defense Week is an Iranian annual commemoration of the 1980-1988 imposed Iran-Iraq war ....
.
Iran has conducted at least six test flights of the Shahab 3. During the first one, in July 1998, the missile reportedly exploded in mid-air during the latter portion of its flight; U.S. officials wondered whether the test was a failure or the explosion was intentional. A second, successful test took place in July 2000. In September 2000, Iran conducted a third test, in which the missile reportedly exploded shortly after launch. In May 2002, Iran conducted another successful test, leading then-Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani
Ali Shamkhani
Ali Shamkhani is an Iranian admiral and politician. He was the Minister of Defense from August 19, 1997 until August 24, 2005 and was replaced by Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar.He is born in 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, he earned a B.S...
to say the test improved the Shahab-3's "power and accuracy." Another successful test reportedly occurred in July 2002. On July 7, 2003, the foreign ministry spokesman said that Iran had completed a final test of the Shahab 3 "a few weeks ago" that was "the final test before delivering the missile to the armed forces," according to a New York Times report.
On November 9, 2004, Shamkhani said Iran could mass-produce the missile.
On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military war games
Military simulation
Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. Many professional contemporary analysts object to the term wargames as this is generally taken to be referring to the civilian...
. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2
Shahab-2
The Shahab-2 is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile.The missile has a CEP of 50 m. On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles...
and Shahab-3 missiles. The missiles had ranges from 300 km (186.4 mi) to up to 2000 km (1,242.7 mi)...Iranian experts have made some changes to Shahab-3 missiles installing cluster warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
s in them with the capacity to carry 1,400 bombs." These launches come after some United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-led military exercises in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on October 30, 2006, meant to train for blocking the transport of weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
.
Great Prophet III test
On July 8, 2008, Iran test fired a non-upgraded version of the Shahab-3 as one of 9 medium- and long-range missiles launched as part of the Great Prophet IIIGreat Prophet III
Great Prophet III was an Iranian missile test and war games exercise, conducted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. It began in the early morning of 9 July 2008, when Iran claimed nine missiles were simultaneously test-fired, including a long-range Shahab-3. Further tests, which one report...
exercise, within a few weeks of a recently concluded military exercise by Israel.
Other missiles fired include the surface-to-surface Fateh-110
Fateh-110
The Fateh-110 , is a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile with at least a 200 km range, and it is produced domestically within Iran, including the solid fuel propellant. The Aerospace Industries Organization is capable of producing many types of liquid and solid propellants...
and Zelzal missiles. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution , often called Revolutionary Guards, is a branch of Iran's military, founded after the Iranian revolution...
air and naval units conducted these tests in a desert location. Air Force commander Hossein Salami advised that Iran was ready to retaliate to military threats, saying "We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch."
One day later, on July 9, 2008, Iran once-again fired a version of the Shahab-3, amongst other missiles, which officials have said has a range of 1250 miles (2,011.7 km) and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. These tests were conducted at the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman....
, which Iran has threatened to shut down traffic into if it is attacked. Independent national security webblog, ArmsControlWonk.com, analyzed Iranian launch footage and concluded that Iranian claims of testing an upgraded Shahab missile were unfounded. A senior Republican Guard commander said Iran would maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Gen.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Mohammad Hejazi
Mohammad Hejazi
General Seyed Mohammad Hejazi is the current commander of Basij, the Iranian paramilitary force that is a major branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.-References:...
, chief of the Guards' joint staff, called the missile tests a "defensive measure against invasions." He also said, Iran will not jeopardize the interests of neighboring countries. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, the French news agency Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
which published pictures from the missile test reported that "Iran had apparently doctored photographs of missile test-firings and exaggerated the capabilities of the weapons" and that an additional missile was added afterwards to cover up a failed launch."
In a sign of commercial fallout from the second missile test in two days, the French oil company Total S.A.
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
announced the conditions were not right to invest in Iran as major oil companies have been under increasing political pressure from the United States and its allies over their activities in Iran amid mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
To ratchet up the pressure further, Israel also showed off its latest spy plane in what is seen as a display of strength in response to Iranian war games (missile tests).
The test on 8 July 2008 caused more indignation around the world as the case for war is being ratcheted up on both sides, despite denials. The tests were seen widely as a response to Israeli aerial war games staged earlier in the month. Ali Shirazi, representative of the Revolutionary Guards naval forces said, warned that Iran would "set fire" to Israel and the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf as its first response to any pre-emptive strike by America or Israel over its nuclear program.
Brig. Gen.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Hoseyn Salami, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, said: "Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy." He also made the statement that "enemy targets are under surveillance." Speaking on a visit to Malaysia on the first day of the tests, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the possibility of an attack by the US or Israel as a "joke."
Gen.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Mohammad Hejazi
Mohammad Hejazi
General Seyed Mohammad Hejazi is the current commander of Basij, the Iranian paramilitary force that is a major branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.-References:...
, chief of the Guards' joint staff, called the missile tests a "defensive measure against invasions." He also said that Iran will not jeopardize the interests of neighboring countries.
Variants
Shahab is the name of a class of Iranian missiles, service time of 1988–present, which comes in four variants: Shahab-1, Shahab-2Shahab-2
The Shahab-2 is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile.The missile has a CEP of 50 m. On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles...
, Shahab-3, Shahab-4
Shahab-4
The Shahab-4 aka IRIS liquid propelled missile is an alleged, and possibly fictional, programme for Iran's first missile to bring satellites into orbit....
, Shahab-5
Shahab-5
Shahab-5 is an alleged Iranian long-range ballistic missile. The name Shahab is a class of Iranian missiles, with a service time of 1988 to present, which comes in six variants: Shahab-1, Shahab-2, Shahab-3, Shahab-4, Shahab-5, Shahab-6.-See also:...
, and Shahab-6
Shahab-6
Shahab-6 is the designation of an alleged and possibly fictional Iranian long-range ballistic missile project alleged to exist by Israeli sources, and supposed to be an extension of the Shahab series of missiles, and first reported to the world by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1997....
.
Operator
-
- Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
- Nodong missile paraded through Pyongyang had a "strong design similarity with the Iranian Shahab-3"
See also
- Military of IranMilitary of IranThe Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran include the IRIA and the IRGC and the Police Force .These forces total about 545,000 active personnel . All branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces...
- Iranian military industryIranian military industryIran's military industry has taken great strides in the past 25 years, and now manufactures many types of arms and equipments. According to Iranian officials, the country sold $100 million worth of military equipment in 2003. and as of 2006 had exported weapons to 57 countries...
- Current Equipment of the Iranian Army
- Project KoussarProject KoussarProject Koussar, also known as Project Kowsar, is an alleged intermediate range or intercontinental ballistic missile program of the Islamic Republic of Iran.-Overview:...
- Shahab-1
- Shahab-2Shahab-2The Shahab-2 is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile.The missile has a CEP of 50 m. On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles...
- Shahab-4Shahab-4The Shahab-4 aka IRIS liquid propelled missile is an alleged, and possibly fictional, programme for Iran's first missile to bring satellites into orbit....
- Fajr-3 (missile)
- Ashoura (missile)
- Ghadr-110Ghadr-110The Ghadr-110 is a medium-range ballistic missile designed and developed by Iran. The missile has a range of 2,500 km to 3,000 km. The Iranian Armed Forces first displayed the missile to the public at an annual military parade to mark the Iran-Iraq war.The Ghadr-110 is an improved version of the...
- SajjilSajjilThe Sejil missile , also known as Sajjil, is a family of Iranian solid-fueled ballistic missiles. The Sejil are replacements for the Shahab liquid-fueled ballistic missiles...
External links
- Shahab-3: an Advanced IRBM
- Encyclopedia Astronautica
- Iranian Missiles, from Sarbaz.org, website of former Iranian Imperial Army loyalists
- Ballistic Missiles of the World
- Shahab-3 MRBM from Military Periscope
- Russia and the Development of the Iranian Missile Program Írán - Námořní cvičení—visual comparison of Shahab-3B and Fajr-3http://www.princeton.edu/sgs/publications/sgs/pdf/4_2wright.pdf
- Janes Defence Weekly Volume 43 and Issue 37 Iran's ballistic missile developments - long-range ambitions