‘Is it a meteor, or a dragon…’; Iran’s Fattah-I hypersonic missile flies towards Israel at 15 times speed of sounds, videos go viral

Israel-Iran war: Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles towards Israel since the Israel-Iran war erupted on June 13, but its latest barrage has grabbed more global headlines and stunned military experts, as Iran’s Fattah-I hypersonic missile reportedly flew towards the Jewish state at Mach 15 speeds (15 times the speed of sound), and pierced Israel’s multilayered air defense system, including the famed Iron Dome.

Visuals of Fattah-I flying in the skies and striking Israel went viral on social media, showing the blazing fast projecting piercing through the skies, with netizens wondering what kind of weapon Iran had fired. Some likened the sight to that of a mythical fire-breathing dragon, while others said it looked like a meteorite.

More versed users asked whether Iran had launched a hypersonic glide vehicle. Later, it was revealed that Iran had fired its Fattah-1 hypersonic missile on the sixth day of the Israel-Iran war which marked the 11th phase of Tehran’s Operation True Promise III, which was launched in retaliation to Israel’s Operation Rising Lion.

‘Turning point’ in conflict, says IRGC

In a statement, Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) termed the launch of the Fattah missile a “turning point” in the ongoing conflict. “The powerful and highly maneuverable Fattah missiles repeatedly shook the shelters of the cowardly Zionists tonight, sending a clear message of Iran’s strength to Tel Aviv’s warmongering ally, which continues to dwell in delusions and false assumptions.”

Military analysts who analyzed the viral footage of the Fattah launch pointed out that the blistering speed and mid-flight maneuvering capabilities at Mach 13 to Mach 15 speeds make it extremely difficult for even the most advanced air defense systems to intercept the Iranian hypersonic missile.

How powerful is Iran’s Fattah-I hypersonic missile?

The Fattah-I, a precision-guided, two-stage hypersonic ballistic missile, is the most advanced missile fired by Iran so far. The Fattah missile is powered by solid fuel, and has a movable nozzle for advanced maneuverability. The hypersonic missile, first unveiled by Iran in 2023, has a range of 1,400 km, and is capable of operating inside and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, reaching speeds of up to Mach 15, according to reports.

Hypersonic missiles are much more difficult for air defenses to intercept, because of their ability to maneuver mid-flight while flying over Mach 5 speeds. According to the IRGC, almost all of its ballistic missiles briefly reach hypersonic speed when they dive toward a target.

As per reports, the Fattah-1 missile is activated using a spherical propellant and can change course in all directions during flight, making detection and interception almost impossible.

Iran is only the fourth country after India, China, and Russia to have successfully produced a hypersonic missile.

How much damage did Fattah-I cause in Israel?

According to media reports, the Fattah-I hypersonic missiles pierced Israeli air defenses, including the Iron Dome, and struck somewhere in Central Israel, causing significant damage and triggering massive fires in the region

Israel-Iran war

The Israel-Iran war erupted on June 13 when Israel unleashed a wave of pre-dawn air strikes on Iranian cities, including capital Tehran, under Operation Rising Lion, in which several top Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami, commander Ghulam-Ali Rashid, nuclear scientist Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, nuclear scientist Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.

Hours later, Iran, under Operation True Promise III, responded with a barrage of missiles and drones that struck several Israeli cities and major population centers, including Tel Aviv. Both sides have launched devastating strikes on each other, causing significant damage to infrastructure and loss of civilian lives, even as world powers and global agencies, including the United Nations, have urged the two bitter enemies to exercise utmost restraint.

According to various media reports, more than 240 people, including about top Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, while Iranian missile attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 28 Israelis.

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