Iran is developing a ballistic missile with a range of 15,000 kilometers, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland
According to The Times of India, Iran is developing a ballistic missile with a range up to 15,000 kilometers—enough to cover the entire United States. Previously, there were reports that Iran had initiated development of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but the disclosed range at that time was far below 15,000 kilometers.
Abdolnabi Musavi Farhad, representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, stated during Friday’s weekly prayer sermon last week that Iran plans to extend its missile range to 15,000 kilometers, enabling strikes on the continental United States.
Musavi Farhad also called for a “revenge operation” to destroy Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that Iran’s current missiles are already capable of reaching Jerusalem.
Iran possesses the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles in stock. Tehran has also built an extensive nationwide network of underground “missile cities,” while actively advancing drones, hypersonic weapons, and electronic warfare systems.
In general, Iran’s defense industry team would find it extremely difficult to leap directly from medium-range missiles to a mature intercontinental missile. A more plausible development path would be for Iran’s first ICBM to have a range just slightly exceeding the ICBM threshold of 5,500 kilometers.
The 15,000-kilometer range target is actually somewhat excessive—Iran only needs missiles with a range of 12,000 to 13,000 kilometers to strike all U.S. territory.
Iran’s pursuit of a 15,000-kilometer range likely aims to replicate the development trajectory of the “Khoramshahr” missile (whose prototype resembles North Korea’s Hwasong-10 missile).
In recent years, North Korea has successfully test-launched three ICBMs claiming ranges exceeding 15,000 kilometers:
1. Hwasong-18: After launch on July 12, 2023, its range was confirmed via ballistic calculations to be 15,000 kilometers;
2. Hwasong-19: More powerful, with an estimated range exceeding 17,000 kilometers;
3. Hwasong-17 liquid-fuel ballistic missile, with an estimated range of approximately 15,000 kilometers.
North Korea rapidly developed multiple ICBMs within a short timeframe, with very high test success rates. Some analysts believe North Korea’s missile development has benefited from mature technology provided by Russia.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873271391259652/
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