Military Knowledge: Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile

Zolfaghar missile is equipped with a warhead weighing 579 kg and its range is 700 km. The guidance method of this missile is based on Inertial and global navigation satellite system and electro-optical terminal with the ability to guide until the last moment. Zolfaghar has anti-jamming capability and is resistant to any electronic warfare.

In the Zolfaghar missile, the nose of the missile has changed from a pointed to a curved one. This change reduces the thermal effect of drag at high speeds; Therefore, the speed of this type is higher than the Fateh-110 models and has reached Mach 5.

Zolfaghar ballistic missile guidance has been optimized. In this missile, the pointed shape of the warhead guide canards has been changed to trapezoidal shape. Also, these canards have been moved to the end of the warhead and behind the guidance, control and navigation section.

The warhead of the Zolfaghar missile is detachable. Detachable warhead, while reducing the negative effects of connecting the body to the warhead in the final phase of the attack, reduces the possibility of intercepting by enemy air defense systems and reduces the probability of enemy air defense missiles hitting the Zolfaghar warhead.

Read more: Military Knowledge: Fateh-110 Ballistic Missile

So far, the dimensions of this missile have not been officially announced; But by examining the available images, it can be seen that its length has increased compared to the Fateh-110 missile.

Zolfaghar missile has high agility due to its light weight and small dimensions, and like other missiles of the Fateh family, it can be installed and launched on a mobile chassis. This increases its survivability on the battlefield. Zolfaghar missile can be fired from a dual launchers.

In September 2020, a new type of this missile named “Zolfaghar Basir” with optical guidance and anti-ship mission was unveiled.

The Zolfaghar ballistic missile has been used in two operations “Laylat al-Qadr” and “Strike of Muharram” against the ISIS terrorist organization in Syria.

On the last night of Qadr in the month of Ramadan, which coincides with Sunday June 18, 2017, the IRGC Aerospace Force with the operational name “Laylat al-Qadr”, used 6 Zolfaghar missiles to attack the command headquarters and positions of ISIS in the Syria’s Deir Ezzor province. The missiles targeted ISIS positions in Deir Ezzor, at a distance of about 650 kilometers. This operation was carried out in response to the ISIS terrorist attack on Iranian Parliament in Tehran in 8 June 2017, which resulted in the martyrdom of 18 civilian.

Read more: IRGC missile operation against ISIS terrorists in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor + Video

In another operation on the morning of October 1, 2018, the IRGC Aerospace Force with the operational name “Strike of Muharram” (Zarbat-e Muharram) with 6 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles from Kermanshah in the west of Iran, destroyed the positions of ISIS terrorists in the Hajin area in the east of the Euphrates River in Syria. The 4 out of the 6 fired missiles were of the Zolfaghar type. Simultaneously with this operation, 7 IRGC drones have also targeted the positions of terrorists in the east of the Euphrates. This operation was carried out in response to the ISIS terrorist attack in September 22, 2018 in Ahvaz city, which resulted in the martyrdom of 25 Iranians and the wounding of 69 others.

Read more: IRGC Missile and Drone Attacks on ISIS Terrorists in Hajin in Syria + Images

Zolfaghar ballistic missile specifications:
Length: 10.3 meters
Diameter: 0.68 meters
Weight: 4620 kg
Warhead: high-explosive up to 579 kg
Engine: single-stage solid fueled
Range: 700 km
Speed: Mach 5
Guidance: Inertial and global navigation satellite system, electro-optical terminal
Accuracy: 10 meters CEP
Origin: Iran

Collection of posters of Zolfaghar ballistic missile in Russian (Зульфикар Ракета), Persian (موشک ذوالفقار), Chinese (佐勒菲卡爾 彈道式導彈), Hebrew (טיל בליסטי זולפיקאר), Arabic (صاروخ ذوالفقار), Azeri (Zülfüqar Raketi) and Kurdish (موشەکی زولفەقار):