Iran test-Fires 3rd Generation of Fateh-110 Missile

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced on Wednesday that the country has successfully test-fired the third generation of Fateh-110 missiles.

The Fateh-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant, high-precision ballistic missile with advanced navigation and control systems.

Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting here in Tehran today, Vahidi told reporters that the newly tested missile enjoys high precision, and added, “Use of highly precise navigation and control systems in this missile has enabled it to hit targets with high precision.”

He added that the new generation of the Fateh-110 has been designed and developed by the Iranian experts in the Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Organization and has not been modeled on any foreign product.

Vahidi announced that the Iranian Armed Forces will be equipped with this missile in mid-September, and stated, “The missile power of the Armed Forces will be remarkably boosted by these missiles.”

The Iranian defense ministry has made great achievements in designing and producing missiles, including the surface-to-surface solid-fuel Sejjil missiles, the long-range Shahab-3 ballistic missile which has a range of up to 2,000 km, and Zelzal and Fateh missiles.

The new test came days after Iran test-fired a new type surface to surface, cruise missile, named Qiam 1.

“Being a new class of Iranian missiles, Qiam 1 has been equipped with new technical features and exceptional tactical power,” Vahidi said, addressing a congregation of people on Tehran University campus on Friday.

He explained that the missile is equipped with a smart navigation system, which decreases the possibility of interception by other projectiles.

Vahidi added at the time that the liquid-fuel missile’s launch time is low due to its smart targeting system.

Iran has been pushing an arms development program in recent years in a bid to reach self-sufficiency. Tehran launched its arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own jet fighters and armored vehicles as well as radar-avoiding missiles and other high-tech weapons.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.