Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Michael Elleman Senior Fellow for Missile Defence International Institute for Strategic Studies 22 November 2010

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Iran is successfully developing ballistic missiles with the aim of giving the Islamic Republic the capability to deliver warheads well beyond its borders; But the worst-case scenario ten years ago about Iran being able to develop an ICBM capable of striking the US within five years has not materialised.

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Missile TranslationFuel type Estimated range PayloadNote Zelzal-1 Earthquake-1 Solid 125km 600 kgUnguided Zelzal-2 Earthquake-2Solid 200km 600 kgUnguided Fateh-110 Victorious Solid km 500kgM-600?? Sajjil-2 Baked Clay-2 Solid 2200–2400km 750kgTesting Shahab-1 Meteor-1 Liquid 300km 1000kgScud-B Shahab-2Meteor-2 Liquid 500km 730kgScud-C Qiam-1RisingLiquid 500km 700kgTesting Shahab-3 Meteor-3 Liquid 800–1000km 760–1100kg No-Dong Ghadr-1 Powerful-1 Liquid 1600km 750kgDeployed? Iran Has the Largest, Most Diverse Missile Inventory in the Middle East

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities

Iranian Missile Capabilities Shahab-1/2 Shahab-3Shahab-3M Ghadr-1Kavoshgar Safir- SLV Based on Nodong Engine Scud Engine Simorgh- SLV

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Shahab-3 Ghadr-1 Four Scud-Engine missile Iran’s Requirement Safir MRBM New System New Airframe Added 2 nd Stage Existing Missiles Shahab-1 Shahab-2 Liquid Propellant Systems

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Simorgh satellite launcher development is part of an ambitious space program with the goal of placing a man in space by the end of this decade. Inaugural launch scheduled for next year. Basis for an IRBM?

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Fateh-110A Ashura/Sajjil-2 Iran is the only country to have developed a missile of the Sajjil- 2’s reach without first having developed a nuclear weapon. Solid Propellant Systems

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Shahab-1 Ghadr-1 Shahab-1 Ghadr-1 50% Confidence 75% Confidence 90% Confidence Military Utility Iran’s missiles lack the accuracy to be militarily effective. But, they could be used as a terror weapon, designed to sow fear and degrade political resolve; casualties would likely be limited to a few hundred.

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Nuclear warheads have a much stronger strategic logic, if Iran can make a bomb small enough. The most likely delivery platform for a notional Iranian nuclear weapon would be the Ghadr-1, or possibly the Shahab- 3. After development, the Sajjil-2.

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities maximum Likely Sajjil performance minimum One Ton Bomb w/RV Ghadr-1 w/ One ton bomb Development of the Sajjil-2 may have been prompted by concerns that a one-ton, first generation bomb design could not be delivered to Israel by the Ghadr-1, unless launched from positions along the Iran-Iraq border, where the launcher and missile would be vulnerable to pre- emptive strikes.

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Iran has invested heavily to establish an indigenous production capacity –Considerable success to date; but still dependent on foreign sources for key components, materials and manufacturing equipment –Solid-propellant industries more capable than Liquid-fueled counterparts Cannot develop new liquid-fueled engine indigenously Could produce larger solid-propellant motors with minimal foreign assistance Established disciplined, robust engineering management processes which enables future developments –Capable of introducing moderately sophisticated countermeasures Missiles will remain inaccurate Status of Iran’s Missile Industries

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Liquid-Propellant missiles constrained by limited technology base; no new engine development possible Intercontinental Missile (ICBM) would be more than 100 tons Available engines sufficient for future space launch vehicles Man in space by 2019? Three stage Sajjil missile possible (3500km) Two to five year flight test program Second generation Intermediate Range Missile (IRBM) at least six to ten years away, based on experiences elsewhere Four year flight test program – minimum time Based on Iran’s history, IRBM development before an ICBM Notional, 9000km ICBM at least a decade away Future Missiles: What and When ?

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Scud/Shahab-1/-2Qiam New RVOld Conical RV Separation plane Fins No Fins Recent Developments

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Centre of Gravity Separation Plane Volume for Weapons Payload Fuse 60-61cm ~1.3m ~ 88cm 1.25 m Qiam Nosecone length Ghadr-1 Nosecone length Recent Developments Common warhead for all missiles?

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Unknowns R-27/ BM-25/ Musudan DPRK Military Parade on 11 October 2010 Nodong resembling the Ghadr-1 Joint Development Efforts ?

Iranian Ballistic Missile Capabilities Russian R-27 developed as a submarine launched missile Capable of 2400km range, with 650 kg warhead Enhanced performance propellants (UDMH-N 2 O 4 ) Must be modified for use as a road-mobile missile Structural reinforcements required Oxidizer very sensitive to temperature changes; missile must be thermally protected Musudan has been lengthened, and reinforced? Range-Payload performance similar to original R-27 Enhanced accuracy possible if state-of-the-art navigation units incorporated, but unlikely Musudan/BM-25 is a NEW MISSILE; has not been flight tested!! BM-25 (Musudan, R-27) Musudan