From ballistic missiles to swarm drones: How powerful is Iran’s war chest

According to reports, Iran has the Middle East’s largest and most varied, spanning ballistic and cruise missiles.- Representative photo

• Iran launched drone and missile attacks at Israeli territory
• Iran has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East
• Some Iranian missiles can reach up to 2,000 km away

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Iran has responded to joint US-Israeli air strikes on its territory by launching a wave of drone and missile attacks at Israeli territory and bases hosting US troops across the Middle East.

The exchange has raised the question on whether the conflict will escalate into a longer-running campaign shaped by the range of Iran’s weapons.

Various reports suggest that Iran possesses one of the largest and most varied guided-missile arsenals in the Middle East, with systems ranging from short-range tactical weapons to long-range ballistic missiles capable of striking deep into the region.

Beginning of Iran’s missile programme

Iran’s missile programme began during the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War as a response to Iraqi Scud strikes. Over the decades, it has grown into the largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East. It has drawn on technology sourced from countries such as North Korea, Russia and China. According to reports, Tehran has a defence industry that manufactures a wide range of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, as well as advanced solid-fuel and hypersonic systems. Some of these weapons can reach targets up to 2,000 kilometres away.

Strength of Iran

According to reports, Iran has the Middle East’s largest and most varied, spanning ballistic and cruise missiles.

The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Iran has the largest ‌stockpile of ballistic missiles ⁠in the Middle ⁠East. Iranian officials said they have a self-imposed range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles).

The shortest straight-line distance between parts of Iran and Israel is just over 1,000 km (620 miles), and the direct air distance from Tel Aviv to Tehran is roughly 1,585 – 1,595 km (985 – 992 miles).

 Iran’s missile programme

Ballistic missiles take a parabolic path through the atmosphere, and they travel faster than drones and cruise missiles. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s short-range ballistic missiles can travel roughly 150-800km (93-500 miles). They are built for nearby military targets and rapid regional strikes.

Key elements of Iran’s missile programme

Iran’s arsenals include the Fateh family and related systems such as Zolfaghar, Qiam-1, and the older Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles. These weapons have relatively shorter ranges, but that limitation can prove advantageous during a crisis.  They can be fired in rapid salvos, reducing warning time and complicating efforts to intercept or pre-empt them.

Tehran demonstrated this approach in January 2020, when it launched ballistic missiles at Iraq’s Ain al-Assad airbase in retaliation for the US killing of Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s most prominent military commanders.

According to Washington-based think tank, the Arms Control Association Iran's ballistic arsenal included the Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 300 km; the Zolfaghar, 700 km; Shahab-3, 800-1,000 km; Emad-1, under development, ⁠2,000 km; and a Sejil model under development, 1,500-2,500 km.

According to Indian Express, Iran’s long-range missiles, with a range of 2,000 km, include Sejil, Ghadr, Khorramshahr and Kheibar.

Tehran had also reportedly acquired the Soviet-era Kh-55 long-range air-launched cruise missiles from Ukraine, with a range of up to 3,000 km. These include the Soumar ground-launched cruise missile with an estimated range of up to 3,000 km and the Ya Ali land-attack cruise missile (LACM) with an operational range of about 700 km.

Cruise missiles and drones

Cruise missiles can fly low and are often harder to detect and track. According to Al Jazeera, Iran has used anti-ship cruise missiles, such as Soumar, Ya-Ali, the Quds variants, Hoveyzeh, Paveh and Ra’ad.

Iran also has a range of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) including Ababil 3, Mohajer 6, Shahed 129, Shahed 136, Shahed 199 and Kaman 22. All these have a range between 200 km and 3,000 km.

Of these, Shahed 136, Hadid-110 and Arash can be used for suicide and Kamikaze-style strikes.