TEHRAN: Amid escalating tensions with the United States in the region, Iran has announced that it has successfully acquired supersonic cruise missile technology. This development comes at a time when military tensions between Iran and the United States have been heightened due to military deployments in the area.
The supersonic cruise missiles are currently undergoing testing. This technology is said to herald a new phase in Iran’s defense capabilities, according to the state-affiliated Tasnim news website. The new missiles are anticipated to significantly enhance Iran’s response time in the event of a conflict. The report did not specify a timeline for when the testing phase would conclude. It also did not provide information about when the missiles might be publicly unveiled.
Iran already possesses a range of cruise missiles; however, none of them have achieved supersonic speeds, defined as speeds between Mach 1 (the speed of sound) and Mach 5. The announcement follows Iran’s previous unveiling of a hypersonic ballistic missile in June. This missile is capable of maneuvering both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, potentially enabling it to evade radar systems and defense mechanisms.
This announcement concerning supersonic cruise missiles coincides with heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. The tensions are particularly focused on maritime security in regional waters. The US Navy recently deployed personnel and warships to the Red Sea. This deployment aims to safeguard shipping lanes, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, from potential Iranian actions.
Iran’s armed forces have voiced opposition to the US military presence in the region. They rejected its relevance to regional waters and questioned the motives behind it.
Iran’s IRGC Bolsters Navy with Advanced Drones and Missiles Amid Rising Tensions
In response to the US military buildup, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed that it has equipped its navy with new drones and missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers (600 miles). The IRGC also conducted an unexpected military exercise on islands that both Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claim. This further contributed to the heightened tensions in the region.
