Source: TN
Subject: Security
Context: Iran officially deployed the Sejjil ballistic missile for the first time in active combat during Wave 54 of its military operations against US and Israeli positions.
- The missile, nicknamed the dancing missile for its evasive maneuvers, reportedly struck strategic infrastructure.
About The Sejjil Ballistic Missile:
What it is?
- The Sejjil (also known as Sajjil or Ashura) is an indigenous, two-stage, medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). It represents a major leap in Iranian missile technology, moving away from older liquid-fueled designs to more reliable and faster-launching solid-fuel systems.
Developed By: The missile was indigenously developed by Iran’s aerospace industries.
Aim:
- The primary objective of the Sejjil is to provide Iran with a rapid-response deterrent capable of striking targets across the Middle East and Southeastern Europe, specifically designed to bypass sophisticated missile defense shields like Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow systems.
Key Features:
- Solid-Fuel Propellant: Unlike liquid-fueled missiles, it can be stored fully fueled for long periods, allowing for near-instant launches.
- Two-Stage Design: Uses two separate solid-propellant motors to achieve high altitudes and high speeds during its flight path.
- Extended Range: It has an operational strike range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, putting the entire Levant region within reach.
- High Payload Capacity: Capable of carrying a warhead weighing roughly 700 kilograms.
- Evasive Maneuverability: Known as the dancing missile because it can maneuver at high altitudes, making its trajectory difficult for radar and interceptors to track.
- Advanced Guidance: The Sejjil-2 variant used in the current conflict features integrated GPS and inertial guidance systems for improved terminal accuracy.
Significance:
- The use of the Sejjil signifies that Iran is now utilizing its most survivable assets—weapons that are hard to detect on the ground and difficult to intercept in the air.
- While some experts view its deployment as a sign of desperation following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it proves that Iran’s missile force has transitioned from a theoretical threat to a functional, high-tech combat tool.
