Iran has developed hypersonic ballistic missile: IRGC commander

Iran has built a hypersonic
ballistic missile, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted a Revolutionary Guard official as saying, in
remarks likely to raise controversies about Iranian missile
capabilities.

“This missile has a high speed and can manoeuvre in and out
of the atmosphere. It will target the enemy’s advanced
anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field
of missiles,” Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than
the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them
difficult to intercept.

However, there have been no reports of such a missile being
tested by Iran and, while Iran has developed a
large domestic arms industry in the face of international
sanctions and embargoes, Western military analysts say Iran
sometimes exaggerates its weapons capabilities.

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‘Destabilising’

Concerns about Iran’s ballistic missiles did however
contribute to a US decision in 2018 under then-President
Donald Trump to pull out of the nuclear pact that Tehran signed
with world powers in 2015.

Last week, Iran said it tested the Ghaem 100, its first
three-stage space launch vehicle, which would be able to place
satellites weighing 80 kg in an orbit 500 km from the earth’s surface, according to state media.

The United States has called such actions “destabilising” as
it believes space launch vehicles could be used to transport a
nuclear warhead.

Iran denies wanting to develop a nuclear weapon.

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