| Country: |
Iran |
| Associated Country: |
China, Syria, North Korea |
| Alternate Name: |
Mershad; Zelzal-2 variant |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
8.86 m |
| Diameter: |
0.61 m |
| Launch Weight: |
3450 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 500 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE, chemical, submunitions |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
210 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
~2004 |
Details
The Fateh A-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant ballistic missile. It is most likely a modified version of the unguided Zelzal-2, with the addition of control and guidance systems.(1) The Fateh A-110 is designed to replace many of the aging Scud systems currently used in the Middle East. While the program is based in Iran, the missile is believed to incorporate components from Chinese contractors.
Iran began developing the Fateh A-110 in 1995. Sources indicate that the missile is 8.86 m long, 0.61 m in diameter, and weighs 3,450 kg. It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine and has a range of 210 km (130 miles), although it is possible that Iran will add extra boosters in order to increase its range to 400 km (249 miles). The missile has an accuracy of about 100 m CEP and uses a combination of inertial guidance and a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system to locate its target. It can carry a payload of some 500 kg and is most likely intended to deliver only high explosive, chemical, or submunitions warheads. The possibility remains, however, that Iran could deploy the Fateh A-110 with biological or nuclear warheads.
The first test flight of the Fateh A-110 occurred in May 2001, with a second the following September.(2) Additional test flights are suspected to have occurred. During its tests, the Fateh A-110 was fired from a fixed launcher similar to the one used by the Russian S-75 Guideline surface-to-air missile. However, it is more likely that Iran has designed a launch vehicle to make Fateh A-110 road mobile. The launch vehicles are probably converted Scud launchers, trucks, or Zelzal-2 launch vehicles.(3) Reports indicate that the Fateh A-110's tactical use is similar to that of a Scud system. Although Iran has improved the missile's overall ability, its accuracy makes the Fateh A-110 ineffective against moving military targets. However, the missile is capable of hitting most large military targets such as bases and airfields.
The missile entered low-rate production in October 2002 and initial operational achievement is believes to have occured in 2004. Syria is known to be developing a similar short-range solid-propellant missile and to have exported a similar design to North Korea. Given their history of technological exchanges and the decreased cost by working together, it is likely that Syria and North Korea are involved with the Fateh A-110.(4)
Footnotes
- Andrew Koch, Robin Hughes, and Alon Ben-David, “Tehran Altering Ballistic Missile,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, 8 December 2004.
- Andrew Koch and Steve Rodan, “Iran Tests Latest Ballistic Missiles,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, 18 September 2002.
- Duncan Lennox, “Short-Range Iranian Ballistic Missile on View,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, 5 February 2003.
- Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 67-68.
