Iran used for the first time the powerful Kheibar missile with multi-warhead capability (MIRV)

Published at: 23/06/2025 10:11 AM

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the use of the Kheibar missile (also known as Qadr-H), for the first time, in a real attack against Israeli territory, as part of its Operation True Promise III.

In a statement issued this Monday, the IRGC explained that in the 21st round of retaliatory attacks Iran had used the Kheibar. Also, in a hybrid operation, solid and liquid fuel ballistic missiles were used, as well as intelligent drones.

The Kheibar has a multi-warhead capability (MIRV) that allows it to deploy multiple warheads in a single launch. This not only increases their destructive power, but it also saturates anti-missile systems, forcing them to face multiple targets at the same time.

As reported by Telesur, the introduction of the MIRV represented an important change in strategic balance. Previously, with one warhead per missile, it was conceivable to build a defense that used missiles to attack individual warheads, and any increase in the enemy's missile fleet could be counteracted by a similar increase in interceptors.

The MIRV has a single missile that forces defenders to use multiple interceptors, which means that it is much cheaper to increase the attack than the defense.

In this sense, it belongs to the third generation of Iranian ballistic missiles and had already been presented in 2022 as an advanced system. However, its recent impact on Israeli territory confirms what until now was speculation about its true potential.

With a range of 1,450 kilometers, the missile can reach any point in Israel from Iranian soil. Its solid-fuel design allows it to be launched faster than liquid-fueled missiles.

The 550 kilogram warhead is maneuverable in the terminal phase, a key feature that allows it to evade defense systems such as the Iron Dome or the Israeli Arrow.

Mazo News Team