Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile, Satellites

Iran has unveiled its latest ballistic missile and three new satellites on the occasion of the National Day of Space Technologies.

The Defense Ministry introduced its newest ballistic missile, Etemad (“Trust” in Persian), which has a range of 1,700 km, a length of 16 meters, and a diameter of 1.25 meters. The missile features a guided warhead with impact capabilities. The unveiling took place on February 2 during President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to an exhibition showcasing the achievements of the Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Organization, according to Tasnim News Agency.

Additionally, the ministry presented an upgraded version of the homegrown Bavar 373 air defense missile system. In this enhanced iteration, known as Bavar 373-II, each launcher station is equipped with its own radar set, enabling independent detection, tracking, and fire control without reliance on a central radar. A battery of Bavar 373-II includes a detection radar set and six transporter erector launchers and radars (TELARs), allowing the engagement control station to counter hostile targets autonomously. The system’s engagement range has been extended to 300 km with the integration of Sayyad 4B missiles. It can track up to 60 targets simultaneously and engage with six at a time.

On the same day, President Pezeshkian highlighted Iran’s growing deterrence capabilities at a ceremony at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to unveil three new satellites. He emphasized that the country’s military advancements are defensive rather than aggressive.

“Such (military) progress will continue, not with the intention of aggression against any country, but with the purpose to prevent any country from daring to violate our soil,” he stated.

Among the key highlights was the introduction of the Pars-1 and Pars-2 remote-sensing satellites, along with the Navak communications satellite. The upgraded Pars-1 satellite features significant improvements over its predecessor, while the Pars-2 satellite offers enhanced imaging precision, with an 8-meter color resolution and a 4-meter black-and-white resolution. The Navak satellite is designed to test communications in an elliptical orbit, marking Iran’s first satellite placement in such an orbit.

The exhibition coincides with the “Ten Days of Dawn,” a period marking the anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s return from exile and the victory of the Iranian Revolution in February 1979. Iran traditionally uses this period to showcase its military and technological achievements.

During the same event, Iran’s Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, announced that the country is preparing for two significant space launches by February 19. He also revealed advancements in spacecraft development, noting that Iran is working on a vehicle for transferring spaceborne cargo between orbits. This project, once realized, will grant Iran access to a Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO).

Nasirzadeh also mentioned that Iran is developing a new satellite carrier, named Sarir, which will be capable of carrying heavier payloads into space. Furthermore, he hinted at the possibility of offering space-related services to allied nations, stating that the Iranian Defense Ministry is currently collaborating with over 7,000 private companies and 300 knowledge-based enterprises across various fields.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) is constructing 25 satellites, with eight others ready for launch. Iran also plans to open the Chabahar spaceport in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province in the summer of 2025. According to ISA head Hassan Salariyeh, “one of the key features of this spaceport is its capability to launch sun-synchronous satellites, a capability that has not been available in Iran until now and will be made possible through Chabahar spaceport. Additionally, this spaceport provides the necessary conditions for satellite constellation deployment, which means satellites can be placed in various orbital planes with different inclinations,” he explained.

On February 2, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami unveiled a new underground base in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, housing “a large quantity of long-range and mid-range AI-powered missiles with new features.”

At the event, General Salami stated that the IRGC Navy has successfully stored all of its coast-to-sea missile systems within secure, fortified underground tunnels. He also announced that the new missiles have ranges exceeding 1,000 km and can accurately strike both naval and ground targets.

One of the missiles unveiled at the underground facility was the Qadr-380 long-range missile, which incorporates artificial intelligence and features low-altitude flight capabilities to evade radar detection. The Qadr-380 is equipped with a warhead containing significantly more powerful ammunition than previous generations. Additionally, the missile integrates a diversity radar system for final-phase guidance, allowing it to strike specific parts of a target. It can also approach from multiple directions and counter electronic warfare threats.

This marks the third underground missile base unveiled by the IRGC in less than a month. On January 18, the IRGC Navy revealed an underground naval missile base at an undisclosed location in the Persian Gulf. Earlier, on January 10, the IRGC Aerospace Force unveiled another underground missile facility.

On February 4, Iran’s regular army launched the second phase of its “Eqtedar (Power) 1403” air defense drills in the southwestern and central regions of the country. The drills utilize advanced indigenous active and passive radar systems, along with signal and electro-optical monitoring. Upon detecting simulated enemy targets, command and control centers will deploy the appropriate air defense systems. The first phase of the exercise took place on January 7, primarily focusing on defending the Natanz, Fordo, and Khondab nuclear facilities.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iran’s space program, while European powers have expressed concerns that Tehran may be using it as a cover to advance its ballistic missile capabilities and potentially develop nuclear warhead delivery systems. Iran, however, insists that its missile program is purely defensive, serving as a deterrent against threats from the United States and Israel, and remains non-negotiable.