A $15 Million Interception: Tehran's Workhorse Missile Flying at Mach 5

The Iranian 'Kheibar Shekan' missile, powered by solid fuel, has become a key weapon in Iran's arsenal. It has a range of 1,450 km, carries a half-ton warhead, and maneuvers at Mach 5. Intercepting it can cost up to $15 million, while the missile itself is cheap, creating an economic attrition equation.

The Iranian 'Kheibar Shekan' missile, powered by solid fuel, has become the main workhorse of Tehran's military arsenal, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. It is a cheap, mobile, and precise weapon, with a range of about 1,450 kilometers. Iran is increasingly using it in complex attacks against American and Israeli bases. The missile can remain permanently loaded, be transported on trucks, and launched immediately. In some versions, its nose carries a half-ton warhead and separates in the final stage, equipped with a small engine allowing maneuvering at Mach 5 (about 10,000 km/h). Iran has launched it toward Israel, including toward the Prime Minister's Office and the Air Force headquarters. While the missile's cost is low, each American or Israeli interceptor costs between $2 and $15 million, creating an economic attrition equation that serves Iranian interests.