Fettah-1 (Hypersonic Ballistic Missile)

Fettah-1 is Iran's first hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC AF) and officially unveiled at a ceremony in Tehran on June 6, 2023.^【1】 Evaluated as capable of influencing regional military balances, Fettah-1 features a mechanism that allows it to change direction during different phases of flight, unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow a fixed parabolic trajectory.

Fettah-1 Hypersonic Missile Technical Specifications

Fettah-1 is a two-stage missile system capable of reaching extremely high velocities between Mach 13 and Mach 15 (13 to 15 times the speed of sound).^【2】 Its stated range is 1,400 kilometers (noted as potentially extendable).^【3】 After launch, the missile exits the atmosphere and maneuvers at hypersonic speeds during its terminal phase toward the target. It has a circular error probable (CEP) of approximately 10 to 25 meters, making it a highly accurate weapon.^【4】

Internal Structure of the Fettah-1 System

The technical architecture of Fettah-1 consists of high-performance propulsion and guidance systems:

• Dimensions and Weight: The missile has a total length of 11.5 meters and a diameter of 1 meter (some open-source reports cite 0.8 meters). Its total weight ranges between 4,000 and 4,600 kilograms.^【5】
• Propulsion System: The missile uses entirely solid-fuel motors. The first stage is similar to the booster of the Khaibar Shekan missile.^【6】
• Second Stage (Motorized RV): The missile’s most notable feature is a secondary solid-fuel rocket motor integrated into the Re-entry Vehicle (RV). This motor is a modified version of the Arash-24-type motor used in satellite launchers and is equipped with an electrically actuated vector control nozzle (Thrust Vector Control – TVC).^【7】
• Navigation: It is equipped with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GPS/GLONASS).^【8】

Technical Specifications of the Fettah-1 Ballistic Missile (Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)

Operational Structure of the Fettah-1 Hypersonic Missile

Fettah-1 is launched from a Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) system mounted on a heavy-duty truck chassis, enabling road mobility.^【9】 This mobile system provides both strategic mobility and tactical flexibility. Thanks to the TEL, the missile can be rapidly deployed and launched from concealed or dispersed positions.

Propulsion Technology and Hypersonic Flight

The Fettah-1’s propulsion system employs high-performance solid fuel in both the boost and post-boost phases. The first stage propels the missile to an altitude of approximately 300 kilometers; the separated MaRV then ignites its main motor based on the Arash-24 design.^【10】 This motor burns for up to 50 seconds, maintaining the warhead’s hypersonic velocity throughout its glide and impact phases.^【11】 The missile reaches speeds of Mach 13+ during its mid-course phase and continues to maintain velocities above Mach 5 during terminal impact.^【12】

Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle (MaRV) Technology

Fettah-1 features a MaRV (Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle) structure that enables high maneuverability during the terminal phase. This terminal section, housing the warhead, can perform three-dimensional maneuvers using four aerodynamic control fins and a vector-controlled nozzle inside the body.^【13】 This technology allows the missile to perform “skip” maneuvers in the upper atmosphere and approach its target along a non-ballistic, angled, and variable trajectory, evading defensive systems.^【14】

Challenges Hypersonic Flight Poses to Missile Defense Systems

Hypersonic weapons such as Fettah-1 present formidable challenges to existing multi-layered missile defense systems. The greatest difficulty lies in the inability to predict the final impact point due to the missile’s high terminal maneuverability. While the trajectory of conventional ballistic missiles is calculable, the sudden course changes made by Fettah-1 during flight can render defensive interception algorithms ineffective.^【15】 Additionally, the missile’s hypersonic speed significantly reduces the reaction time available to defense systems.

Radar Detection and Tracking Limitations

Fettah-1’s flight profile constrains the tracking capacity of fixed radar and electro-optical (EO) sensors. The missile flies at a lower, depressed trajectory that limits the line-of-sight (LOS) geometry of ground-based radars and delays detection by remaining below the horizon. Furthermore, its ability to descend to altitudes as low as 15 kilometers during maneuvers can cause many sensors to lose track of the target.^【16】 The motor’s exhaust plume and the high heat signature generated by hypersonic flight complicate the accurate analysis of this object by tracking and scanning (TWS) algorithms designed for conventional ballistic behavior.^【17】