Iran is showing off its "Saqr" missile
REGION 03 February 2023 - 09:40
Iranian pro-government media has recently reported extensively about the Saqr missile, noting that it had been used in Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthi group, as well as in Iraq, to target US forces and also in Syria. This links Iran to all these attacks, without explicitly taking credit for them.
This “mysterious” missile has been used in many places, all of them linked to pro-Iran forces around the Middle East. The missile behaves like a cruise missile and a “loitering” munition, that it can detect targets with optical and thermal systems, Jerusalem Post reported on February 1.
Additionally, according to the report, it “patrols” the sky as it looks for the target to destroy and is packed with explosives and a proximity fuse which are activated when the target is close enough for the 10kg warhead to be detonated.
“Such a missile, which is actually an innovation in air defence systems, is a suitable weapon for targeting drones and helicopters at low altitude; a large number of targets are used by the Americans and Saudis in the skies of Iraq and Yemen, and the Saqr missile has so far succeeded in destroying at least three Saudi drones in the sky of Yemen,” the Tasnim report reads.
Iran’s media says the missile has a special design and “includes three parts: propulsion, guidance and control, and the missile warhead.” It has a “microjet engine” the article says, noting that most air defense missiles are propelled by “solid fuel.”
The report moves on to the weapon’s automatic pilot, data link and GPS. IRGC Aerospace Forces commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh recently said that “the power of drones is a new power that has been born and has various branches, some parts of which are Iranian inventions. Defence surface-to-air missiles based on drones are an Iranian invention, and there are many of these examples.”
This isn’t the first time the missile has been mentioned. The Iran Watch website noted in November 2022 that “Two less surprising missiles in the parade were the Quds-3 land attack cruise missile and the Saqr-1 surface-to-air missile. Both the Quds (designated ‘351’ by the United States) and the Saqr (designated the ‘358’ by the United States) have been captured by Western navies during interdictions of arms shipments bound for Yemen.”
The website further notes that “the Saqr-1 has been seen in Iraq, and a modified version of it has reportedly been used by Iran-backed groups to attack ground targets in Syria, but this was the first time the Houthis had displayed.”
According to another website, the missile is 2.75 meters long and that it weighs up to 50kg with its fuel. It can operate in several modes, either against aerial targets or it can “loiter” and seek out ground targets. This gives the operators many opportunities to use the weapon.
Why is Iran talking about this missile now? It isn’t new and its use throughout the region was already suspected and assumed. Is Iran raising the curtain on it as a kind of threat in the wake of the drone attack in Isfahan?
These are key questions to ask whenever Iranian pro-regime news outlets publish articles like these. It is entirely plausible that this missile will be seen more in the region in the future. Whether it can do what articles say it can do is another question.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Phantom arms deal: How false claims aim to derail Baku-Tehran diplomacy Azerbaijan embraces "forewarned is forearmed" principle
25 July 2024 - 15:34
|
2
|
Could France’s anti-NATO rhetoric trigger domestic turmoil? Leftist Mélenchon's stance sparks historical echoes
24 July 2024 - 10:24
|
3
|
Azerbaijan: The new powerhouse of aluminium production amid global market strain "Green" era's requirement
25 July 2024 - 17:05
|
4
|
Brussels' bait and Yerevan's rush to swallow it The visa-free temptation
24 July 2024 - 09:00
|
5
|
West-backed Armenia likely to spark conflict with Azerbaijan rather than seek peace Caliber.Az reveals expert prognoses
25 July 2024 - 11:10
|
Germany condemns railroad vandalism in France ahead of 2024 Olympic Games
27 July 2024 - 10:49
China’s diplomatic surge: Outmaneuvering West in Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Middle East
Beijing poised for long-term influence27 July 2024 - 10:40
Moldova blocks entry for Armenian anti-Azerbaijani blogger
27 July 2024 - 10:36
Unsafe fruit and vegetable imports from Armenia to Russia spark concerns
27 July 2024 - 10:24
Iran rejects Israeli blame for French railway disruptions during Olympics
27 July 2024 - 10:12
China proposes international conference to resolve Palestinian-Israeli conflict
27 July 2024 - 10:00
Turkish forces launch massive strike on terrorists in Iraq
27 July 2024 - 09:48
Paris 2024: Azerbaijani athletes march in Olympics opening ceremony
PHOTO/VIDEO27 July 2024 - 09:35
The uncertain future of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal
Grim outlook amid int’l interference27 July 2024 - 09:23
King Charles III hosts COP29 President-designate amid COP troika engagement
27 July 2024 - 09:16
Italy’s Leonardo, Germany’s Rheinmetall forge joint venture
27 July 2024 - 09:09
Japanese Kawasaki debuts hydrogen internal combustion engine motorcycle
Pioneering green technology / VIDEO27 July 2024 - 07:03
Venezuela struggles with gas shortages ahead of key presidential vote
27 July 2024 - 05:04
Japan addressing increasing incidents of customer harassment
Service culture under strain27 July 2024 - 03:05
Swiss spots struggle with social media-driven visitor impact
Tourism vs. nature27 July 2024 - 01:03
German chancellor tackles EU expansion, internal reform challenges
Path forward26 July 2024 - 23:03
Italian newspaper explores Azerbaijan's ancient Albanian churches
26 July 2024 - 21:08
Azerbaijani prosecutor general declares ties with Türkiye as strategic partnership
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 20:55
Azerbaijan, Italy strengthening military relations
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 20:42
China demands withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe
26 July 2024 - 20:29
Pentagon concedes to spreading anti-Sinovac propaganda in Philippines
26 July 2024 - 20:16
COP29 presidency team hosts events to tackle key climate agenda issues
26 July 2024 - 20:03
Israel targets Türkiye’s TRT Haber team covering Al-Aqsa mosque incident
26 July 2024 - 19:51
COP20 president: Azerbaijan should lead with ambition at COP29
26 July 2024 - 19:38
Turkish defence minister, Azerbaijani ambassador discuss strengthening military ties
26 July 2024 - 19:25
FBI seeking to interview Trump as part of assassination attempt investigation
26 July 2024 - 19:12
US presidential candidate cites potential path to victory with Biden out of race
26 July 2024 - 18:58
Turkish MP confirms plans for official Azerbaijani school in Istanbul
26 July 2024 - 18:44
US vice president’s call for peace in Gaza sparks controversy with Israel
26 July 2024 - 18:30
FM: Italy to appoint ambassador to Syria after 10 years
26 July 2024 - 18:17
Head of Georgian Parliament blames opposition for compromising national safety
Aid to Ukraine at Georgia’s expense26 July 2024 - 18:03
South Caucasus on edge: West fuels Armenia's war drums
Yerevan clings to deceitful rhetoric26 July 2024 - 18:02
Media: Iran arms Hezbollah with advanced weapons
26 July 2024 - 17:49
Bolsonaro intends to run for Brazilian presidency in 2026, citing confidence in winning
26 July 2024 - 17:36
Armenian PM visits modernised Margara checkpoint on Turkish border
VIDEO26 July 2024 - 17:22
Boeing considers to convert its top fighter into an electronic warfare jet
Caliber.Az on YouTube26 July 2024 - 17:17
Belarus ready to expand cooperation with North Korea
26 July 2024 - 17:09
EU appoints new special representative for South Caucasus
26 July 2024 - 17:01
Azerbaijani-Chinese partnership defies "first among equals" attitudes
Rising above geopolitical cynicism26 July 2024 - 16:55
Armenia's militarization: A "peace agenda" with an armed approach
Yerevan must revisit recent historical lessons26 July 2024 - 16:42