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Iran Displays Cruise Missile Resembling U.S. JASSM at Underground Missile Facility

TEHRAN, — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has revealed a previously unseen cruise missile inside an underground facility described as a missile city. Footage released by IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency on November 10 during Aerospace Week shows a missile with an angular design resembling the American AGM-158 JASSM stealth cruise missile.

The facility contains ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and launchers. It was visited by Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force. The missile's identifying markings were blurred, while its exact location, weapons inventory and operational capacity were not disclosed.

 

Iranian Missile Resembles American JASSM

The display comes after reports that Iran recovered components of American JASSM and JASSM-ER missiles during the 2026 conflict. Iranian media previously reported that a largely intact missile had been recovered and examined by specialists. Reports also mentioned recovered wreckage near Arak and penetrator warhead components from other locations. However, the condition and identity of all recovered weapons have not been independently confirmed.

The American AGM-158 JASSM, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a low-observable, air-launched cruise missile. The baseline AGM-158A has a range of approximately 370 km, while the extended-range AGM-158B JASSM-ER can reach more than 926 km. Both versions carry a 1,000-pound (450 kg) WDU-42/B penetrator warhead and use GPS-aided inertial navigation with an imaging infrared seeker. Their reported terminal accuracy is approximately 3 metres.

Open-source estimates suggest U.S. forces used more than 1,000 JASSM-family missiles during the conflict. Commonly cited unit costs range from $1.4 million to $1.7 million, depending on the variant and production year.

 

Reverse Engineering Remains Unconfirmed

Although the displayed Iranian missile resembles the JASSM externally, this does not confirm that Iran has reproduced its complete technology. Developing an equivalent weapon would require advanced propulsion, guidance electronics, infrared seekers, radar-absorbing materials and warhead systems.

Iran has not released confirmed flight-test results or technical specifications demonstrating that the new missile matches the American weapon's range, accuracy or stealth capabilities. The design could reflect an existing Iranian development programme, lessons from recovered components or a combination of both.

 

Iran Expands Underground Missile Production

IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said Iran had moved missile and drone production into underground facilities to maintain manufacturing during air attacks.

The latest footage is part of Iran's effort to demonstrate its missile production and storage infrastructure following the 2026 conflict. However, the size, inventory and operational status of the newly revealed facility remain independently unverified.

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About the Author

Aditya Kumar is a Defense & Geopolitics Analyst covering military developments, missile systems, naval strategy, and global defense affairs.

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