Iran Unveils New Weapon: Shahed 136B drone and Jihad missile

Iran's New Military Hardware Showcase

• Iran unveiled new weapons at a military parade on September 21, 2024
• The showcase included the Shahed 136B drone and Jihad ballistic missile

Shahed 136B drone:

• • Upgraded version of the Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drone
  • Operational range of over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles)
  • Features new capabilities and improved stealth technology
  • Uses a turbojet engine, making it similar to a cruise missile
  • Larger size may require more complex launch platforms

Jihad ballistic missile:

• • Single-stage, liquid-fuel ballistic missile
  • Range of 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles)
  • Designed and manufactured by the aerospace arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards
  • Features a high-explosive detachable warhead

Other military hardware displayed:

• • Total of 23 new ballistic missiles and long-range kamikaze drones
  • Includes new Fatah hypersonic missiles

Regional and International Implications

• Showcase occurs amid growing tensions in the Middle East
• Iran's weapons development seen as a deterrent against potential Western assaults
• Allegations of Iran arming Russia with drones for use in Ukraine:
  • U.S. confirmed Iran shipped Fath-360 ballistic missiles to Russia
  • Fath-360 is a close-range ballistic missile with a 150-kilogram warhead

International response:

• • New sanctions imposed on Iran by the UK, France, Germany, and the US
  • Sanctions related to alleged supply of ballistic missiles to Russia
• Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accuses Israel of "shameless crimes"
• Call for Islamic countries to sever economic ties with Israel and weaken political relations
• Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasizes country's growing defensive capabilities
• Tensions escalate with recent Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut:
  • At least 31 people killed, including two top Hezbollah commanders
  • Attack followed sabotage operations against Hezbollah's communications infrastructure

Strategic Significance of Iran's Military Advancements

• Iran's focus on long-range weapons development:
  • Aims to deter potential Western military interventions
  • Compensates for lack of ability to strike US mainland directly
  • Enhances Iran's regional influence and deterrence capabilities
• Implications for regional balance of power:
  • Potential to alter strategic calculations in the Middle East
  • May influence negotiations and diplomatic relations with Western powers
• Concerns over proliferation:
  • Fears of advanced weapons technology spreading to non-state actors
  • Potential impact on regional stability and security
• Economic considerations:
  • Development of domestic arms industry as a response to international sanctions
  • Potential for arms exports as a source of revenue and geopolitical influence