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Iran launched a medium-range ballistic missile on Tuesday, which was its first, according to Al-Jazeera. Named Fattah, it can travel at hypersonic speeds of up to 15 times the speed of sound and can penetrate missile defense systems.
Here are 5 points about Fattah:
- The hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 kilometers and uses a solid propellant, allowing great maneuverability. His name was chosen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and translates to “opener”. AlJazeera said report.
- Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, hypersonics fly on low trajectories in the atmosphere, allowing them to reach targets faster and with less chance of being intercepted by modern air defenses.
- Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Air Force, announced they were developing a hypersonic missile at an event in November last year.
- Iran says Fattah represents a “generational leap” for its missile technology. “The Fattah cannot be hit by other missiles because it is moving in a different direction and at a different altitude,” Hajizadeh said at the event last year.
- The inauguration ceremony was attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, IRGC Commander Hossein Salami and other dignitaries.
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