Iran hails new radar-evading long-range missile

Iran today claimed a successful test firing of an upgraded version of its longest-range missile which is capable of reaching Israel.

Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the Sajjil-2 was a high-speed, surface-to-surface missile that would serve as a “strong deterrent” against any possible foreign attack.

“Given its high speed,” he said, “it is impossible to destroy the missile with anti-missile systems because of its radar-evading ability.”

The Sajjil-2 is a two-stage missile with a range of about 1,200 miles . That range places Israel, Iran’s sworn enemy, well within reach and brings south-eastern Europe into range with greater precision than earlier models.

It is Iran’s most advanced two-stage missile and is powered entirely by solid-fuel while the older, long-range Shahab-3 missile uses a combination of solid and liquid fuel in its most advanced form.

Israel declined to comment on the test.

Iran has intensified its missile development program in recent years, a source of serious concern in Israel and the West at a time when they accuse Tehran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon.

Israel has not ruled out a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran, in turn, has threatened that such an attack would be retaliated against with strikes on Israel’s own nuclear sites.

The name “Sajjil” means “baked clay”, a reference to a story in the Koran in which birds sent by God drive off an enemy army attacking the holy city of Mecca by pelting them with stones of baked clay.

Solid-fuel missiles like the Sajjil-2 are more accurate than the liquid fuel missiles of similar range currently possessed by Iran. The country has for several years had a solid-fuel missile, the Fateh, but with the much shorter range of 120 miles.

Iran’s arms manufacturing programme began during the country’s ruinous 1980-88 war with neighbouring Iraq to compensate for a US arms embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.

The actual capabilities of the weapons, including the accuracy and range of the country’s home-made missiles, are difficult to ascertain given the secrecy of the Iranian military.