Khaberni - Fars News Agency quoted an Iranian military source saying that Tehran for the first time used "Fatah 2" hypersonic missiles in the attacks targeting US military bases in the region.
"Fatah 2" is an Iranian-made ballistic hypersonic missile, belonging to the class of gliding hypersonic weapons. It is the second version of the "Fatah" ballistic hypersonic missile, which is described as the first Iranian ballistic missile to exceed the speed of sound, and was officially announced on November 19, 2023.
According to the data announced, the missile has a range of 1400 kilometers and travels at 5.1 kilometers per second, with a speed up to Mach 15, which equals 15 times the speed of sound. Tehran claims the missile can bypass missile defense systems and target enemy defense systems, considering it an important advancement in Iranian missile industry.
The missile is launched into space at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, and it is said to be designed to overcome defense systems like "Arrow", by combining high speed and maneuverability. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles which travel in a semi-arc trajectory that can be tracked and planned for interception from the moment of launch, the hypersonic missile features an airframe more akin to a rocket plane and may be fitted with its own engine or continue flying based on the speed provided by its launch system.
The missile is capable of maneuvering after entering the atmosphere, which complicates tracking and interception at the appropriate time. Iran asserts that "Fatah 2" can reach a speed of Mach 15, with a range of up to 1400 kilometers.
Information indicates that the missile is equipped with a glide warhead known as (HGV), which is a modern type differing from maneuvering warheads in its design and flight path. The speed of this type of projectile ranges between 5 and 20 Mach, depending on the design and features flying at lower altitudes than traditional ballistic missiles with the ability to frequently change direction, posing challenges for early-warning radars.
According to the announcement, the missile relies on the maneuverability of the glide warhead, in addition to having an engine separate from the missile's engine, enhancing its ability to alter the attack path during flight.
