US-Iran War: Iran has deployed its Fattah-2 hypersonic missile amid escalating war with the US and Israel. It will be the first operational use of the Fattah-2, which is said to be an upgraded version of the Islamic Republic's Fattah ballistic missile.

While viral videos on social media allegedly showing a Fattah-2 missile have not yet been verified, Military Watch magazine suggests that Iran may have used missiles like the Fattah-1 and Fattah-2 to attack high-value targets. The missile is a better version of the original Fattah-1, featuring a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warhead.

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India Shot Down Pakistani Fatah-II During Operation Sindoor

Last year in May, India’s air defence systems shot down a similar missile during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan's Fattah-II ballistic missile was intercepted over the skies of Sirsa, Haryana, approximately 220 km west of New Delhi.

Airstrikes have intensified significantly since the assassination of the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

How Powerful Is The Fattah-2 Missile?

The Fattah-2, introduced by the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in November 2023, is designed to use a hypersonic glide vehicle instead of a conventional ballistic missile reentry vehicle. This allows it to manoeuvre in both pitch and yaw, maintain very high reentry speeds, and reach targets from unintended directions.

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Iranian officials claim that the Fattah-2 missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 15 and hit targets at ranges of up to 1,400 kilometres. A missile travelling at Mach 15, or roughly 18,500 kilometres per hour, could theoretically evade conventional missile defence systems. Furthermore, the hypersonic missile can carry a powerful 200-kilogram warhead.

War Spreads To Gulf Countries

Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on Gulf countries where US military bases are located. It has deployed large consignments of missiles, drones, and other weapons against US bases in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. These attacks targeted the US embassy and military facilities, including bases and fleet headquarters, forcing Gulf air defense systems to intercept hundreds of incoming projectiles.

(With Jagran.com inputs)