The conflict between Iran, the USA, and Israel has now turned into a full-blown war. In a retaliatory strike, Iran launched massive waves of missiles and drone attacks on Israeli and US airbases under Operation True Promise. In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it used the Kheibar Shekan missiles.
The IRGC claimed that the missile penetrated Israeli air defence systems and struck a government compound in Tel Aviv, a military center in Haifa, and East Jerusalem. Earlier, Iran had warned Israelis to stay away from military and government areas for their safety.
What is the Kheibar Shekan Missile?
The Khyber Shekan missile is Iran’s latest long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile. The name means “breaker of Khayber” in Arabic, a reference to the Battle of Khayber in Arab history. It is the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr missile family.
According to IRNA, the missile has a range of 1,450 kilometers, making it capable of reaching Israel from western Iran. It features a satellite guidance system and a maneuverable warhead, allowing it to strike with high precision.
Speed, Weight and Specs
The missile is approximately 4 meters long and weighs 1,500 kilograms. Its speed is said to reach 19,500 km/h in the atmosphere and 9,800 km/h outside it, roughly Mach 12. Due to this speed, it can make interception difficult even for advanced air defence systems such as Israel’s Arrow or America’s Patriot.
It can be launched from a mobile platform and is ready in less than 15 minutes. Its aerodynamic design reduces air drag, helping it evade radar detection. Iran has reportedly used its own “Around” engine integrated into the fuel tank, making the missile more compact and easier to deploy, while also designed to bypass conventional air defences.
How Was the Khyber Shekan Developed?
The Kheibar Shekan belongs to Iran’s Khorramshahr family of ballistic missiles. The first version, Khorramshahr-1, was introduced in 2017 and measured about 13 metres in length. A second version followed in 2019, reflecting ongoing upgrades to the system.
The third model, Khorramshahr-3, was developed with limited public disclosure before its existence was later confirmed.
The fourth and latest version, known as Khyber Shekan, was unveiled between 2022 and 2023 and publicly displayed during Iran’s Defense Week parade.
Unlike earlier liquid-fueled variants, Kheibar Shekan uses solid fuel. This allows for faster launch preparation, easier storage, and better concealment, key advantages in modern missile warfare.
Where Was It First Used?
According to Iranian sources, the Kheibar Shekan has been deployed in several major operations:
- Operation True Promise 1 (April 2024): Described as Iran’s first large-scale direct attack on Israel.
- Operation True Promise 2 (October 2024): Reportedly carried out in response to the killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures.
- June 2025: A third-generation version was used in what Iran called a direct strike on Israel.
- Operation True Promise 4 (2026): In what was described as the tenth wave of attacks, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the missile penetrated Israeli defence systems. During this phase, Iran reportedly launched hundreds of missiles targeting US bases in Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, along with Israel.
Iran places significant strategic emphasis on this missile due to its high speed and maneuverability, which it says make interception more difficult.
Read More: Russia loses key ally leader as Putin slams Khamenei ‘cynical’ killing
