Fattah Hypersonic Missile; Specifications, Mach 15 Speed, and How It Penetrates Defenses

The “Fattah” hypersonic missile is a two-stage, solid-fuel hypersonic missile with a speed of Mach 13 to 15 and a range of 1,400 kilometers. By utilizing a movable nozzle, maneuvering capability inside and outside the atmosphere, and stealth features, it has the ability to penetrate missile defense systems.

Achievement Specifications

Defense DomainAir، Ground، Missile

Manufacturer CountryIRAN

Achievement LevelDomestic Design

Key Features

Two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system with a movable nozzle (thrust vectoring) in the second stage
Hypersonic speed in the range of Mach 13 to 15 (approximately equivalent to 15,000 to 18,000 km/h)
Operational range of 1,400 kilometers to reach key and strategic targets in the region
Extremely short time to target of approximately 400 seconds (about 6 minutes and 40 seconds)
Capable of active maneuvering and unpredictable trajectory changes both inside and outside the atmosphere
Stealth design capable of disrupting the radar waves of enemy interception systems
Ability to penetrate advanced defense systems such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling
Capability to correct trajectory in the final moments before impact to maximize strike precision

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Full Description

Technical and Operational Review of the Fattah Hypersonic Missile

The “Fattah” hypersonic missile, as one of the most prominent achievements of Iran’s defense and aerospace industry, represents a leap to a new level of intelligent, high-speed weapons technology. Possessing movement specifications far exceeding supersonic speeds and high dynamics during the flight phase, Fattah has brought the doctrine of deterrence and regional military equations into a new phase.

Iran’s Standing in the Hypersonic Missile Club

The successful development of Fattah has placed Iran alongside leading countries in hypersonic missile technology—including the United States, Russia, and China—as the fourth country globally to possess this technology. Achieving hypersonic missiles requires precise control of flight dynamics at extremely high speeds, the use of heat-resistant alloys, and flexible steerability throughout the flight path.

Solid-Fuel Propulsion and Movable Nozzle Technology

One of the technical specifications of the Fattah missile is the use of a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system. The second stage of this missile is equipped with a solid-fuel motor featuring a movable nozzle (Thrust Vector Control):

Thrust Vectoring: The movable nozzle allows the missile to change direction at hypersonic speeds.
Maneuvering Inside and Outside the Atmosphere: Unlike traditional ballistic systems that follow a fixed trajectory, Fattah can change its path outside the atmosphere and during reentry, acting unpredictably.
Rapid Reaction: The use of solid fuel minimizes the missile’s launch preparation time.

Hypersonic Speed and Penetrating Defense Shields

The Fattah missile achieves speeds between Mach 13 and 15, equivalent to approximately 15,000 to 18,000 kilometers per hour. This high speed creates several operational advantages:

Extreme Reduction in Reaction Time: The total time for the missile to reach targets at its maximum operational range (1,400 km) is estimated to be only 400 seconds (about 6 minutes and 40 seconds).
Reduced Interception Probability: Conventional tracking and defense systems cannot accurately calculate the impact point of this missile because it continuously changes its trajectory.
Passing Through Defense Layers: The combination of high speed, stealth body design, and the ability to disrupt radar waves creates the possibility of penetrating and passing through systems such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.

Technical Specifications Table of the Fattah Hypersonic Missile

Technical Specification	Description / Value
Missile Name	Fattah
Class / Weapon Type	Hypersonic Missile
Propulsion Type	Two-stage solid fuel with movable nozzle in the second stage
Operational Range	1,400 km
Terminal Phase Speed	Mach 13 to 15 (15,000 to 18,000 km/h)
Time to Target	Max 400 seconds (approx. 6 minutes and 40 seconds)
Maneuverability	Thrust vectoring, maneuver in/out of atmosphere, continuous trajectory change
Anti-Defense Features	Stealth, reduced radar tracking probability, deception and passing through missile defense shields
Trajectory Correction	Capability to adjust and correct direction in the terminal phase for precise impact

Operational Impact on Regional Defense Balance

According to statements by the Public Relations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regarding the deployment of the Fattah missile, this missile, by targeting positions and bypassing defense layers, serves as a symbol of change in deterrence tools. The combination of hypersonic speed, pin-point accuracy, and high penetrability makes the Fattah hypersonic missile one of the key pillars of the country’s missile capability in the face of strategic threats.