Why in News?
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently claimed the use of Kheybar Shekan ballistic missiles during rising tensions in the West Asia region — a security development often analysed in UPSC coaching in Hyderabad while studying global defence technologies and geopolitics.
Key Features of the Missile
• Range: The missile has a strike range of approximately 1,450 kilometres, allowing it to reach several strategic locations across West Asia.
• Solid Fuel Technology: The missile uses solid propellant, which provides operational advantages such as faster launch preparation, easier storage, and lower maintenance compared to liquid-fuel missiles.
• Size and Weight: The missile is about 4 metres in length and weighs roughly 1,500 kilograms, making it relatively compact compared to some other ballistic missiles.
• Mobile Launch Capability: The missile can be launched from mobile launch platforms, improving survivability by making it harder for adversaries to detect and destroy before launch.
Advanced Technical Characteristics
• Multi-Stage Flight System: The missile operates through three main phases — the launch phase, the mid-course guidance phase, and the terminal phase where the missile precisely strikes the target.
• Precision Guidance: The missile uses satellite-based navigation systems that enhance targeting accuracy and reduce the chances of missing the intended target.
• Maneuverable Warhead: It is equipped with a maneuverable warhead, allowing it to adjust its trajectory during the final stage of flight and evade interception by missile defence systems.
• High Speed: Reports suggest that the missile can reach speeds of Mach 10 to Mach 12, making interception extremely difficult even for advanced air defence systems — topics often covered in IAS coaching in Hyderabad while analysing defence technologies.
Strategic Significance
• Regional Deterrence: The missile strengthens Iran’s deterrence capability by allowing it to strike distant targets if threatened.
• Indigenous Defence Development: The development reflects Iran’s progress in domestic missile manufacturing and defence technology.
• Impact on Regional Security: Such missile advancements influence strategic stability and power balance in West Asia, making them important in geopolitical calculations.
Ballistic Missiles: A Brief Overview
A ballistic missile is a rocket-powered weapon that:
• Follows a ballistic trajectory after launch.
• Travels through space before re-entering the atmosphere to strike its target.
Ballistic missiles are classified by range:
• Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM) – up to 1,000 km
• Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM) – 1,000–3,000 km
• Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) – 3,000–5,500 km
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) – more than 5,500 km
These classifications are frequently discussed in UPSC online coaching and civils coaching in Hyderabad while preparing for GS3 internal security and defence technology topics.
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