A look at 'Haj Qasem' missile Iran used for the first time against Israel

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday it utilized a caller "Haj Qasem" ballistic rocket for the archetypal clip successful a caller question of attacks against Israel and the United States, describing it arsenic an precocious precision-guided limb named aft slain commandant Qassem Soleimani.The IRGC claimed the strikes targeted sites successful Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It besides said the barrage deed US subject bases successful the region, including facilities successful Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.The reported usage of the rocket comes arsenic the Iran-Israel warfare enters its 3rd week, with the struggle spilling crossed the Gulf, disrupting shipping lanes and drafting successful aggregate determination actors.Named aft Soleimani, the erstwhile caput of the IRGC’s Quds Force killed successful a 2020 US drone strike, the Haj Qasem rocket carries some symbolic and subject significance.The rocket is described arsenic a road-mobile, solid-fuel medium-range ballistic rocket with a reported scope of astir 1,200 to 1,400 kilometres, putting Israeli cities wrong reach. Solid-fuel systems tin beryllium launched much rapidly than liquid-fuel missiles, reducing the model for interception earlier launch.

Iranian media reports accidental the rocket is equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, which tin change its way during descent, perchance making it harder to intercept.

It is besides said to usage a operation of inertial navigation and optical oregon infrared seekers, allowing it to onslaught targets without relying connected GPS signals.Iranian officials person claimed the rocket tin evade precocious air defence systems specified arsenic THAADand the Patriot system, though specified assertions are contested by Western analysts and stay unverified.The Haj Qasem is reported to transportation a payload of astir 500 kilograms and question astatine precocious speeds during atmospheric entry.

Its roadworthy mobility is seen arsenic enhancing survivability by allowing launchers to beryllium moved and concealed.In the existent conflict, Iran has said it deployed the Haj Qasem alongside different ballistic missiles, including Ghadr, Emad and Fattah, arsenic good arsenic drones, successful coordinated strikes. Analysts accidental specified combinations are typically intended to complicate and strain aerial defence systems.The instauration of the rocket into progressive operations is being viewed arsenic portion of Iran’s broader reliance connected ballistic rocket capabilities, peculiarly successful a struggle that has expanded beyond nonstop exchanges and is progressively affecting the wider determination information landscape.According to Iranian claims, the rocket is equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, oregon MaRV, which tin set its trajectory during descent. Such capability, if effective, could complicate interception by rocket defence systems. Iranian media reports besides accidental it uses precocious navigation systems, including inertial guidance and optical oregon infrared seekers, enabling it to onslaught targets without relying connected GPS and to run successful contested physics environments.Iranian officials person further claimed that the rocket tin evade systems specified arsenic THAAD and the Patriot rocket system, though these assertions are disputed by Western analysts. Independent verification of the missile’s afloat capabilities remains limited, but analysts enactment that Iran has been moving to amended the accuracy and survivability of its rocket arsenal implicit the years.The Haj Qasem is reported to transportation a payload of astir 500 kilograms and to question astatine precise precocious speeds during atmospheric entry.

Its roadworthy mobility adds to its survivability by making motorboat sites harder to observe and target.In the existent conflict, Iran has said it utilized the Haj Qasem alongside different ballistic missiles specified arsenic Ghadr, Emad, and Fattah, arsenic good arsenic drones, successful coordinated attacks. This operation reflects a broader attack aimed astatine challenging aerial defence systems done aggregate incoming threats alternatively than relying connected a azygous platform.The missile’s instauration into progressive operations appears to service some operational and signalling purposes. It demonstrates Iran’s quality to deploy newer systems during a prolonged struggle portion besides sending a connection astir its onslaught capabilities amid sustained unit from Israeli and US actions.At the aforesaid time, the effectiveness of specified systems depends not lone connected their method specifications but besides connected real-world show against layered aerial defence networks. As the struggle continues, assessments of the Haj Qasem’s interaction are apt to evolve.