Fattah-2: How Iran used hypersonic missile to pierce Israel's air defence

Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles, including its hypersonic medium-range Fattah-2, in a major offensive aimed at overwhelming Israel’s air defences on Tuesday.

The strikes hit key Israeli military installations, including Nevatim airbase near Beersheba and Tel Nof airbase, both home to Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Other targets included Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev Desert and the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Used for the first time, the Fattah-2, the successor to Fattah-1, adds more bang to Iran's existing military capabilities. According to Iranian officials, it targeted Israel’s Arrow defence system, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

How Fattah-2 boosts Iran’s firepower:

Equipped with a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warhead, allowing the missile to maneuver and glide at speeds between Mach 5 and 20. Fattah-2 boasts a range of 1,500 km, only slightly more than its predecessor, the Fattah-I. Capable of significant trajectory changes during flight to evade defence systems. Utilises a spherical solid-fuel engine with a movable nozzle for enhanced direction control. Fattah-2's re-entry vehicle is equipped with hydrazine fuel for acceleration and maneuvering within the atmosphere. While the missile can accelerate outside the Earth's atmosphere, its aerodynamic control surfaces allow for steering within the atmosphere.

Following Tuesday’s missile attack, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed that 90 per cent of their projectiles successfully hit their targets. However, both Israel and the United States said their militaries cooperated to intercept and shoot down most of the missiles fired by Iran.

No injuries were reported in Israel, though one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, according to local authorities. Images showed missile debris in Ramallah and officials inspecting a crater in central Israel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the missile strikes a "decisive response" to Israeli "aggression." In response, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a "big mistake," warning that Tehran would face consequences.

With inputs by Ankiit Koomar