Kheibar Shekan

Kheibar Shekan
Type	Medium-range ballistic missile
Place of origin	Iran
Service history
Used by	Islamic Republic of Iran
Wars	War on ISIL[1][2] 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
Production history
Designer	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Manufacturer	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Produced	2022
Specifications
Mass	6.3 tons
Length	11.4 meters
Diameter	76 centimeters
Warhead weight	500 kg
Propellant	Solid fuel engine
Operational range	1450 Kilometers (900 miles)
Flight altitude	135 km
Maximum speed	Mach 5 (at impact)
Accuracy	CEP<20m,[3] CEP=700-1000m[4]

Kheibar Shekan or Kheibarshekan (Persian: خیبرشکن) is an Iranian solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force. It is of the third generation of IRGC missiles and was unveiled in 2022 at a ceremony attended by Iranian military commanders on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the Iranian Revolution.^[5] The missile is propelled by solid fuel and its warhead is maneuverable in terminal phase with the objective of evading air defenses. It has the ability to hit targets with a range and a radius of 1,450 kilometers (900 miles).^[6]

Kheibar Shekan alludes to a fort near Medina, Khaybar, which was populated by Jews and was in 628 A.D. attacked and conquered by Muslims led by Muhammad. 'Shekan' contextually means 'destroyer' or 'breaker'.^[7][8][9]

Kheibar Shekan exhibited at Tehran during 2022 Quds Day.

The Kheibar Shekan missile uses solid fuel and weighs less than similar missiles. It has a definite operating radius of more than 1400 kilometers (900 miles), while the maneuverability of this missile is very high compared to its classmates. It is also referred to as a long-range ballistic and aim point missile.^[10][11]

The Kheibar Shekan missile can be considered as a new generation of missiles and a mutation in developments in the missile field of the Islamic Republic of Iran.^[11][12][13]

The Kheibar Shekan is one of the third generation of long-range missiles of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which uses "solid fuel" and in the landing phase, has maneuverability to pass through the missile shield. Another important feature of the Kheibar Shekan missile is its optimal design, which weighs up to one-third less than similar models, and its preparation and firing time is reduced to one-sixth. Due to the design of the warhead and with special wingtips, the possibility of maneuvering this missile in the final phase to counter the anti-missile defense systems has been strengthened. This missile has high accuracy and has the ability to hit points. Its warhead can withstand very high temperatures.^[14]

The Kheibar Shekan missile is 11.4 meters long, 76 centimeters in diameter, and weighs 6.3 tons with a 550-kilogram warhead. Its warhead is a fast and intense explosive type. The body of the Kheibar Shekan missile's body is made of Composite material same as Raad-500 missile.^[11]

One of the advantages of the Kheibar Shekan missile is its smaller dimensions compared to similar models. Therefore, in the limited space of underground missile bases, more of them can be stored.^[15]

The relatively larger dimensions of its warheads increase the maneuverability of the warhead after entering the atmosphere and allow for more sophisticated and faster maneuvers to effectively cross the barrier of in-air missile defenses, which are characteristic of defense systems such as David's Sling of Israel Defense Forces and the Patriot of the United States.^[16]

Its maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) warheads maneuver when enter the Earth's atmosphere with the help of wingtips, which reduce kinetic energy and, of course, velocity during the maneuver. For this reason, at the moment the warhead hits the target, there are no signs of burning of the blocks and melting of the warhead, which makes it possible to perform heavy maneuvers to neutralize the enemy's air defense. The velocity of the warhead at the moment of impact is estimated at 2 to 3 Mach.^[11]

The Kheibar Shekan missile warhead configuration is of the Tri Conic type, which is used to maintain the warhead stability during heavy maneuvers. Of course, the amount of drag force in this configuration is a bit higher, but its due to achieve maneuverability. Therefore, the designers of this missile, by making engineering compromises, have preferred maneuverability to increasing the drag force.^[11][13]

The published images show the high speed of the Kheibar Shekan missile before leaving the Earth's atmosphere, so that the missile reaches speeds above 4–5 Mach before leaving the atmosphere. Such high acceleration greatly reduces the effects of deceleration due to the gravitational force of the earth, which ultimately leads to an increase in the range of the missile.^[10][11]

The Kheibar Shekan missile can use a wide range of launchers. The launcher used for the Kheibar Shekan missile is mounted on a 10-wheel commercial chassis that can also be camouflaged as a commercial vehicle.^[11][7][8]

On 15 January 2024, Tasnim News Agency reported that the IRGC Aerospace Forces launched four Kheibar Shekan missiles from Darkhoveyn District in southern Khuzestan province at midnight, traveling a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi), specifically targeting the perpetrators of the Kerman bombings in Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria.^[17]

On 14 April 2024, as part of the Iranian strikes in Israel. Iran launched 110 missiles toward Israel. Six missiles identified as Kheibar Shekan were able to penetrate Israel defense system and cause minor damage to Nevatim Airbase.^[18]

On 5 June 2024, the Houthis released a Keffiyeh-patterned warhead solid propelled ballistic missile which marked strong resemblance to the Kheibar Shekan 2. The Houthis stated that this was the missile used to strike Eilat on 3 June. The IDF later confirmed the missile had been intercepted.^[19] They used a similar missile to attack Tel Aviv on the 16 of September of the same year. ^[20]

On 1 October 2024, Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to Israel's assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC Commander Abbas Nilforoushan on 27 September. Kheibar Shekan missiles were among those reportedly used in the attack.^[21] In response, on 26 October 2024, Israel struck military targets inside of Iran, including multiple facilities used to manufacture and store the solid propellant fuel for Keibar Shekan missiles.^[22]

• Zolfaghar (missile)
• Sejjil (missile)
• Persian Gulf (missile)
• Soumar (missile)
• Battle of Khaybar
• Fattah (missile)

• The Kheibar Shekan missile video
• Iran unveils new 'strategic missile' with 1,450 km range
• Iran's unveils new 'Khyber Shikan' missile
• Iranian operations against el-Asad and Erbil bases: what can be learned from the imagery? -- Part One :: Strategic imagery :: Foundation for Strategic Research :: FRS