Iran has reportedly used its Fattah-2 hypersonic missile in combat for the first time ever.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched the weapon as part of Operation True Promise 4. This is Tehran’s latest retaliation against Israeli and US forces in the region.
Iranian state media dropped footage showing the missile blasting off. They claim it hit targets after dodging multiple interceptors. One video allegedly shows the weapon swerving past defenses before impact.
The Fattah-2 is scary fast. Iran says it hits Mach 15 — that’s over 11,000 mph. It carries up to 500kg of explosives and can travel 1,500km. The missile uses a hypersonic glide vehicle design, meaning it can change direction mid-flight to avoid getting shot down.
Tehran unveiled this beast in late 2023 as an upgrade to the Fattah-1. Now they’re actually using it in a real war.
Western analysts aren’t totally convinced by Iran’s hype. Independent verification is thin. US and Israeli military sources haven’t confirmed the missile’s exact performance yet. But even skeptics admit this is a serious step up for Iran’s arsenal.
Hypersonic weapons are a nightmare for missile defense systems. They fly too fast and too erratically to track easily. This deployment cranks up the regional arms race another notch.
Tensions are through the roof. Washington has reported US personnel casualties from recent strikes. All sides are warning the conflict could drag on for months.
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