Fattah-1 () is an Iranian
hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that exceeds five times the speed of sound, often stated as starting at speeds of Mach 5 and above.
The precise Mach number at which a craft can be said to be flying at hypersonic speed varies, since i ...
medium-range ballistic missile
A medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) is a type of ballistic missile with medium range (aeronautics), range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the United States Department of Defense, U.S. D ...
developed by the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...
and unveiled in June 2023. According to Iran, its high maneuverability and speed helps it to evade missile defense systems.
In November 2023, Iran unveiled a newer version of the missile, Fattah-2.
The missile has been reported to have the capability to carry
nuclear warheads
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear expl ...
should Iran further pursue
its nuclear program.
Description
According to Iran, it can maneuver in and out of the atmosphere, and is capable of bypassing
missile defense
Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception, and also the destruction of attacking missiles. Conceived as a defense against nuclear weapon, nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic mi ...
s.
History
On 10 November 2022, during the 11th anniversary of the death of
Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, known as the "father of Iranian missiles", Iran announced it has built an advanced hypersonic ballistic missile calling it a "major generational leap". Brigadier General
Amir Ali Hajizadeh
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh (; 28 February 1962 – 13 June 2025) was an Iranian military officer who served as the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, a position he held from October 2009 until his assassination in June 2025 by ...
,
IRGC Aerospace Force
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, officially known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air and Space Force (IRGCASF; , acronymed in Persian as NEHSA), is the Iran's ballistic missiles program, strategic missile, air forc ...
commander, said the missile has a high velocity and can maneuver below and above the Earth's atmosphere. He said "it can breach all the systems of anti-missile defence" and added that he believed it would take decades before a system capable of intercepting it is developed. The missile was unveiled in a ceremony on 6 June 2023.
Iran may have used Fattah-1 missiles in its
strikes against Israel on 1 October 2024, according to an analysis by ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. According to
Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, researchers from the
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
James may refer to:
People
* James (given name)
* James (surname)
* James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician
* James, brother of Jesus
* King James (disambiguation), various kings named James
* Prince Ja ...
(CNS) have identified Fattah-1 debris from both the 1 October strikes as well as the
April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel
On 13 April 2024, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military, Iranian Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Lebanon, Lebanese militant g ...
.
[ ]
On June 18, 2025, Iran launched Fattah missiles on
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
during the
Iran–Israel war
The Iran–Israel War is an ongoing armed conflict between Iran and Israel. Active hostilities broke out amid poor relations between Iran and Israel, 2025 United States–Iran negotiations , negotiations between Iran and the United States ov ...
along with other missiles.
Gallery
File:Unveiling ceremony of Fattah hypersonic missile (30).jpg, Fattah in unveiling ceremony on 6 June 2023
File:Unveiling ceremony of Fattah hypersonic missile (10).jpg, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh in unveiling ceremony
File:Unveiling ceremony of Fattah hypersonic missile (27).jpg, Final Stage with Rocket Motor
See also
*
Hypersonic glide vehicle
A hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) is a type of warhead for ballistic missiles that can maneuver and glide at hypersonic speed. It is used in conjunction with ballistic missiles to significantly change their trajectories after launch. Convention ...
*
Hypersonic weapon
A hypersonic weapon is a weapon capable of maneuvering at hypersonic speed, defined as above Mach 5, or above 5 times the speed of sound.
Below Mach 1, weapons would be characterized as subsonic, and above Mach 1, as supersonic. At extre ...
*
Maneuverable reentry vehicle
The maneuverable reentry vehicle (abbreviated MARV or MaRV) is a type of warhead for ballistic missile, ballistic missiles that is capable of maneuvering and changing its trajectory.
There are two general reasons to use MARV. One is to make it ...
References
Medium-range ballistic missiles of Iran
Surface-to-surface missiles of Iran
Post–Cold War weapons of Iran
Hypersonic missiles
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