The Khorramshahr-4 (also known as the Kheibar) is an advanced Iranian medium-range ballistic missile with a 2,000 km (1,242 miles) range and a large 1,500 kg (3,300-pound) warhead designed for maximum destructive impact.
The first Khorramshahr missile was unveiled in 2017. The Khorramshahr-4 was first seen in 2023 and integrated into subterranean missile bases.
Iranian Kheibar Shekan “Fortress Buster” Ballistic Missile Creative Commons Image
It features high terminal velocity and precision guidance.
The Khorramshahr-4 is one of the most powerful and technically ambitious medium-range ballistic missiles in Iran’s arsenal.
It combines a heavy payload capacity with high terminal speeds, though independent verification of its precise combat accuracy and electronic countermeasures remains debated by military analysts.
This missile is much more expensive than the Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile, with an estimated cost per unit of about $8 million
The Khorramshahr-4 Was Developed For The IRGC
The Khorramshahr series of medium-range ballistic missiles was developed by the Iranian state-owned defense company Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) for deployment with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Iranian Defense Ministry first test-fired the missile in January 2017, but it exploded after flying for about 600 miles. A U.S. military official said the missile had been previously launched in July 2016, but this was reported as an Iranian Musudan test.
Iran Missiles. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The missile was officially unveiled during a ceremony held in Tehran commemorating the 37th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War in September 2017.
The upgraded fourth-generation missile, Khorramshahr-4, was unveiled during a ceremony commemorating the 41st anniversary of the liberation of the southwestern city of Khorramshahr in May 2023.
UN Resolution 2231 supposedly curtailed these developments, but Iran has nevertheless ignored it, along with other resolutions.
The Khorramshahr-4 Range: Perhaps Understated
The Khorramshahr missile is believed to be an Iranian version of North Korea’s Hwasong-10 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which, according to ODIN, is itself a modified version of the outdated Soviet R-27 (SS-N-6) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
The Hwasong-10, also referred to as the Musudan ballistic missile, was delivered to Iran around mid-2005, according to multiple sources.
After modifying it, the Iranians renamed it Khorramshahr.
One interesting factor is the range.
Iranian Ballistic Missile. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Iran claims the range as 2,000 kms; however, the North Korean missile has an estimated range of 2,500 to 4,000 km.
Iranian missile with that range could easily reach all of Europe’s capitals, including Rome, London, Berlin, and Paris.
Analysts have questioned why Iranian officials cite a much shorter maximum range for the missile.
IRGC Commander of the Aerospace Division, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, stated that the Iranian variant “has become smaller in size and more tactical,” in explaining its shorter range.
However, some analysts believe that Iranian officials do not want to raise concern in Europe about their missile program, and thus are purposely underestimating the range. “I am not sure why the Iranians are lying about the range,” one U.S. official told Fox News. “I think they don’t want to piss the Europeans off.”
Iran fired what many analysts believe were two Khorramshahr-4 missiles at Diego Garcia, which is 4,000 kms away.
Khorramshahr-4 Design and Specs
The missile is 42 feet long, liquid-fuelled, with a 5-foot diameter and a launch weight of about 20 tons. The missile comprises a payload compartment containing a warhead, along with upper and lower oxidizer tanks, an intertank section, and a fuel tank.
The missile speeds up to Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and slows to Mach 8 during terminal descent, according to Iranian sources, compressing reaction times for modern missile defense systems.
It uses an advanced Arvand engine powered by hypergolic LF, allowing it to remain launch-ready for years and shortening preparation time to 15 minutes or less.
The missile also features a maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle (MARV) capable of releasing submunitions to hit up to 80 targets in a single mission. This differs from the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology.
Accuracy May Be Lacking Somewhat
While the core guidance system is immune to electronic jamming, depending on whether terminal guidance relies entirely on basic inertial navigation, its accuracy can vary widely over maximum distances.
Although the missile has high speeds and cluster capabilities, advanced multi-layered air defense networks (such as Israel’s air defense systems) have demonstrated the ability to intercept incoming Iranian ballistic threats during the recent regional escalations.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
