TEHRAN : Iran has formally begun nationwide operational deployment of its newest ballistic missile, the Khorramshahr-4, integrating the system into its network of fortified underground facilities known as “missile cities,” according to reports from Iranian state and semi-official media.
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the missile has entered active service with the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the first time. The report described the deployment as the final step following earlier testing and public unveiling, indicating that the system has reached what officials characterized as full operational readiness.
Confirmation of Operational Status
Iranian state television aired footage showing Khorramshahr-4 missiles positioned inside deep underground bunkers. The broadcast stated that the missile has achieved “operational maturity,” signaling its availability for deployment within Iran’s existing missile command structure.
The underground facilities shown in the footage are part of a dispersed network of hardened bases constructed to house missile systems away from surface exposure. Iranian officials have previously said such sites are designed to ensure survivability against potential pre-emptive strikes while allowing rapid launch capability.
Technical Characteristics
According to specifications released by Fars News, the Khorramshahr-4 is a liquid-fuel ballistic missile with the following reported capabilities. The missile has an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (about 1,240 miles) and is designed to carry a warhead weighing up to 1,500 kilograms.
State media reports further claim that the missile reaches speeds of up to Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and approximately Mach 8 during atmospheric re-entry. These performance characteristics were cited as central to the missile’s role within Iran’s long-range strike forces.
Role Within Iran’s Missile Forces
The Khorramshahr-4 is the latest iteration in the Khorramshahr missile family and represents an incremental upgrade over earlier variants. Iranian media described the missile’s speed and payload capacity as key features intended to enhance Iran’s strategic deterrence posture.
Fars News reported that the missile’s velocity and flight profile are assessed by Iranian planners as factors that reduce the effectiveness of missile defense systems. The outlet stated that, based on these characteristics, the missile could reach targets in Israel within an estimated 10 to 12 minutes, though no independent verification of these claims was provided.
Integration Into Military Planning
Officials cited by state media said the Khorramshahr-4 has now been fully incorporated into the IRGC Aerospace Force’s operational planning, both for defensive deterrence and for potential offensive scenarios. Its placement within underground “missile cities” is intended to ensure constant readiness while preserving the system against aerial surveillance and attack.
The deployment follows the missile’s formal unveiling and a series of reported tests, completing its transition from development to active service. Iranian media emphasized that the move reflects continuity in Iran’s missile program, rather than a change in declared policy, framing the deployment as part of ongoing modernization efforts within the country’s existing military doctrine.
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