Iran Debuts Hypersonic Fattah Missile, Claims Capability to Bypass Anti-Missile Defenses
Iran unveiled its first hypersonic missile on Tuesday, boasting speeds exceeding Mach 5 and asserting the weapon’s ability to evade all contemporary anti-missile defenses. The government-backed news agency IRNA reported that the Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of about 1,400 kilometers. The presentation took place in the presence of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hussein Salami, underscoring the political and strategic importance of the announcement.
According to General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who leads the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Forces, the new system represents a significant leap in Iran’s defense capabilities. Iranian media quoted him describing the Fattah as capable of traveling at speeds in the realm of Mach 12 to Mach 13, including flight both inside and outside the atmosphere, with high maneuverability that could complicate interception by existing defense systems. The claim that the missile can bypass current anti-missile defenses has been echoed by Hajizadeh, reinforcing Tehran’s message about advancing deterrence and strategic reach.
Iranian authorities framed the Fattah within a broader national effort to develop a self-reliant weapons program. They highlighted a persistent focus on missile technology over the past four decades, a period during which the country faced international embargoes and sanctions. Officials noted that Iran already operates a portfolio of missiles with ranges reaching 2,000 kilometers, which they say could pose a credible deterrent and targeting capability in the region.
In a related development at the end of May, Tehran showcased another long-range ballistic missile with a reported range of 2,000 kilometers and a payload of approximately 1,500 kilograms. This system employs liquid-fuel propulsion and is marketed as more accurate than earlier variants, according to official narratives. While Western governments continue to express concern about Iran’s ballistic missile program, Iranian officials characterize these weapons as defensive tools intended to deter aggression and preserve national security.
The public unveiling of the hypersonic technology occurred amid broader regional diplomacy. Diplomatic channels were activated as Iranians and Saudis began reopening their missions in Riyadh after a March agreement to normalize relations, brokered with China’s mediation following seven years of estrangement. The episode is framed by Iranian officials as part of a pragmatic shift toward stabilizing regional ties, even as the substance of the military capabilities remains a point of international attention and cautious scrutiny by observers around the world.