Iran Missile Chronology - The Nuclear Threat Initiative

Iran Missile Chronology

2011-2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990

1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986-1985 | 1984-1960

Last update: August 2011

This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting

information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have

deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over

time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into

account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation

significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking.

Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation

2011-2010

15 March 2011

Iranian official news agency IRNA reports the test launch of a Kavoshgar-4 (Explorer) rocket, aimed at testing the

performance of the engine, the launch pad, the capsule and the electronic systems. Data and images are

reportedly transmitted to a ground control station from a 75-mile orbit. The rocket is reportedly equipped with a

capsule for a live animal, a test run for a future launch carrying a monkey in preparation for a possible manned

space mission.

¡ª"Iranian Satellite-Launch Rocket Lifts Off in Trial," Global Security Newswire, 17 March 2011; "Iran Test Fires

Latest Space Rocket ¨C IRNA," Reuters, 17 March 2011.

16 May 2011

Reportedly, an unpublished document submitted to the United Nations Security Council by the panel of experts

monitoring Iran's compliance with Resolution 1929 (2010) asserts that Iran conducted two unreported test

launches of long-range ballistic missiles in October 2010 and February 2011. In October 2010, Iran tested a

Sejil/Ashura missile, and either a Sejil-1 or Sejil-2 in February 2011. A Shahab-3 test launch also occurred in

February 2011. The document also cites close cooperation between North Korea and Iran in the development of

ballistic missile systems. Reportedly, China opposes the official release of the document.

¡ª"UN Report Cites Two Unreported Long-Range Iranian Missile Launches," Institute for Science and International

Security, 17 June 2011, isis-; Dan Bilefsky, "China Tried to Bar Report Critical of North Korea;

Beijing Rallies to its Ally, U.N. Diplomats Say, over Transfers of Technology, The International Herald Tribune, 16

May 2011.

Related content is available on the website for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, .

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the

Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been

independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright ? 2011 by MIIS.

24 May 2011

The latest IAEA report on Iran asserts that the Agency has received new information regarding possible Iranian

efforts to fit a nuclear payload to a ballistic missile. Specifically, the Agency expresses concerns about Iranian

activities aimed at redesigning the Shahab-3 ballistic missile to carry a nuclear payload.

¡ª"Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions in

the Islamic Republic of Iran," IAEA, 24 May 2011; David E. Sanger and William J. Broad, "Watchdog Finds Evidence

that Iran Worked on Nuclear Triggers," The New York Times, 25 May 2011.

16 June 2011

Iran launches a Rasad I (Observation) satellite, the country's second satellite launch after the Omid (Hope) satellite

in February 2009. The satellite is launched on a Safir rocket and goes 260km into orbit. The satellite reportedly

carries imaging equipment that could be used for reconnaissance and mapping.

¡ªJulian Borger, "Iran Launches Second Satellite," The Guardian, 17 June 2011; Yaakov Katz," Iran Launches Rasad 1

'Observation' Satellite," Jerusalem Post, 16 June 2011.

27 June 2011

In an unprecedented move, Iranian state television broadcasts images showing underground Iranian missile silos

for Shahab-3 missiles. The images are shown as Iran begins its annual "Great Prophet" war games. According to an

Iranian official, the missiles are ready to be launched on short notice. The broadcast does not specify the location

of the silos.

¡ªWilliam J. Broad, "Iran Unveils Missile Silos as It Begins War Games," The New York Times, 27 June 2011; Yaakov

Katz, "Iran Reveals Underground Ballistic Missile Silos, Shahab-3 has 2,000 km Range," Jerusalem Post, 28 June

2011.

3 February 2010

The Iranian official news agency reports the unveiling of Iran's newest satellite launch vehicle (SLV), the Simorgh,

stating that it is "a 27-meter-long, multi-stage, liquid-fuel missile with a thrust of 143 metric tons." The Simorgh is

designed to carry a 60kg (132lb) satellite into low earth orbit (LEO) and could be enhanced to carry a 700kg

satellite. State Press TV in Iran shows the Simorgh being launched with a capsule containing a mouse, worms and

two turtles, which later return safely to the earth. Iranian President Ahmadinejad says that Iran will soon send its

own astronauts into space. Western states express concern about the potential for Iran to turn these satellite

capabilities into an ICBM program.

¡ªAron Ben-David, "Iran Tests New Launcher," Aviation Week, 17 February 2010; "Launch Sight-Iranian Rocket

Capabilities Advance," Jane's Information Group, 16 March 2010; "Iran Building Potential ICBM Launch Facility with

Help from North Korea," World Tribune, 8 March 2010; Parisa Hafezi and Reza Derakhshi, "Iran Says Launches

Satellite Rocket," Reuters, 3 February 2010; Adam Gabbatt, "Iran Rocket Launch Opens Can of Worms in Space

Race with West," The Guardian, 3 February 2010.

6 February 2010

Iranian state TV reports the unveiling of two new missiles, marking the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution.

Iranian Defense Minister Vahidi tells reporters that both missiles will go into production at newly constructed

Related content is available on the website for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, .

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the

Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been

independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright ? 2011 by MIIS.

facilities. The missiles, which include the Qiam (Qaem) ground-to-air missile designed to hit helicopters flying at

low to mid altitudes and the Toofan-5 surface-to-surface missile designed to penetrate armored vehicles, will begin

production and are expected to be made available to the Iranian Army this year.

¡ªEdward Yeranian, "Iran Announces Production of 2 New Missiles," Voice of America News, 6 February 2010; "Iran

Opens Two New Missile Plants," AFP, 6 February 2010; McParry, "Iran Starts Production of Qaem and Toofan-5

Missiles," Reuters, World Military Forum, 6 February 2010.

7 March 2010

Iran states it has started mass production of the highly accurate short-range cruise missile Nasr 1. Defense Minister

Vahidi says the missiles could be fired from ground-based launchers or ships but would eventually be modified to

be fired from helicopters and submarines. Vahidi also asserts that the short-range cruise missiles are capable of

destroying a 3,000 ton target. Tehran frequently makes announcements about new advances in military

technology that cannot be independently verified.

¡ªNasser Karimi, "Iran Begins Cruise Missile Production," The Huffington Post, 7 March 2010; "Iran Begins CruiseMissile Production," The Washington Times, 7 March 2010.

11 April 2010

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi reveals Iran's first indigenous operational air defense system, called

Mersad. Vahidi asserts that the Mersad system uses Iran's Shahin missiles and is capable of hitting aircraft flying at

low to mid altitudes. Iran has begun mass production of the Shahin missiles and is expected to deliver them to the

Iranian armed forces soon. However, Israeli experts say the "new" Mersad system does not represent a significant

breakthrough in air defense capabilities.

¡ª"Iran's First Advanced Air Defense System Becomes Operational," Tehran Times, 12 April 2010; "Iran Starts

Production of New Mersad Missile System," Associated Press, 11 April 2010; "Iran Producing New Anti-Aircraft

Missile: Report," Agence France-Presse, Defense News, 11 April 2010; Alon, Ben-David, "Hawk Watch," Aviation

Week and Space Technology, 19 April 2010.

20 August 2010

Iran says it successfully test fired a new surface-to-surface missile called Qiam-1. Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad

Vahidi says the liquid fueled missile is of a "new class." It is a short-range missile with no wings or fins giving it

"tactical power."

¡ªMichael Elleman, "Generation Qiam: Iran's New Missile," The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS),

26 August 2010; "Iran Test Fires Surface-to-Surface Missile," AFP, 20 August 2010.

22 August 2010

Iran unveils its first domestically-built unmanned bomber or drone called Karrar. Iranian TV reports that the Karrar

can travel 620 miles (1,000km) and carry two 250-pound bombs, one 500-pound precision bomb, or up to four

cruise missiles. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad states the unmanned vehicle should serve as both an

offensive weapon and a deterrent against attack: "the jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies

of humanity, has a main message of peace and friendship."

¡ªMichael Sheridan, "Iran Unveils 'Karrar,' Unmanned Bomber Dubbed 'Ambassador of Death' By President

Related content is available on the website for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, .

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the

Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been

independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright ? 2011 by MIIS.

Ahmadinejad," NY Daily News, 22 August 2010; "Iran Unveils First Bomber Drone," BBC News, Middle East, 22

August 2010; Keith Thomson, "How Iran's 'Ambassador of Death' Compares to Other Drones," The Huffington Post,

22 August 2010.

23 August 2010

Iran begins mass-production of two new assault boats, Seraj and Zolfaqar, with missile launching capabilities aimed

at increasing Iranian defense and security in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. According

to Iranian sources, the Zolfaqar was built for speed and fast attacks on ships and includes "two missile launchers,

two machine guns and a computer system to control the missiles." The Seraj, which also has rocket launching

capabilities, was built for fast attacks and "designed for a tropical climate."

¡ªFarhad Pouladi, "Iran Launches Assault Boats, Warns 'Don't Play with Fire,'" AFP, Defense News, 23 August 2010;

"Iran Inaugurates Mass Productions of 2 Types of Assault Boats," Tehran Times, 24 August 2010.

25 August 2010

Iranian state television shows the Fateh 110 missile being launched, although reports did not indicate where or

when the launch took place. Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi says the new version of the Fateh is a "single

stage solid propellant missile" with a "longer" and "more accurate" range. It will be made available to the Iranian

Armed Forces by mid-September 2010.

¡ª"Iran Test Fires Surface-to-Surface Missile," Al-Manar TV, 25 August 2010; "Iran Successfully Tests Fateh-110

Missile," The Indian News, 25 August 2010.

22 September 2010

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issues a decree canceling the sale of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran,

initially concluded in 2007. Russia came under pressure from the United States and Israel over the deal, who

feared that Iran could reverse engineer the missile system and turn it into an offensive weapon. Russia supported

the imposition of new UN sanctions on Iran and promised not to deliver the missiles. The cancelled sale will cost

Russia over $1 billion in revenue and has drawn criticism from Iran.

¡ª"Russia Bans Iran Missile Delivery," Al-jazeera, 22 September 2010; Rasha Reslan, "Banned Iran Missile Sale

Costs Russia $1 Billion," KippReport News, 29 September 2010.

23 October 2010

Iran Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi announces that Iran has improved upon its Mersad air defense missile system.

According to Vahidi, the "new generation of Mersad system covers higher altitudes and hits more targets

simultaneously." The upgrade includes target tracing and tracking radars, software and hardware networks and

new launch pads for Shahin missiles. Critics, however, doubt Iran's enhancements saying it was unlikely the new

Mersad was significantly different from the original.

¡ªAlan Elsner and Jennifer Packer, "Iran Improves Range of Mersad Missile System," The Israel Project, 24 October

2010; "Iran to Manufacture Mersad Missile System with Longer Range," Trend, 25 October 2010; "Iran Improves

Mid-Range Missile Defense System 'Mersad',"Saudi News Today, 23 October 2010; "Iran Talks Big on Missile

Capabilities," Security Industry, United Press International, 2010.

Related content is available on the website for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, .

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the

Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been

independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright ? 2011 by MIIS.

8 November 2010

In Iran's first public reaction to the cancellation of the sale of S-300 missiles by Russia, President Ahmadinejad

accuses Russia of "selling out" to the United States. The Iranian President states that Iran "still considered the deal

to be valid," and if not executed the Iranian people "will seek its rights, the losses and the fines on it." Russia has

stated that is will reimburse Iran for its pre-payments on the deal and had begun "preparing the necessary

documents." Russia promised to return Iran's advance payment of $166.8 million in a timely manner, but stated it

was under no obligation to make any further compensation.

¡ª"Iran Lashes Out at Russia for Missile Deal," United Press International, Security Industry, 8 November 2010;

Anna Smolchenko, "Russia to Reimburse Iran Over Missile Deal," Defense News, 7 October 2010; "Russia to Refund

Iran over Missile Deal: Arms Export Chief," Missiles and Bombs News, Defense Talk, 8 October 2010.

Back to Top

2009

21 January 2009

The Federation of American Scientists, after obtaining secret Iranian documents, confirm the long-held suspicion

that Iran's Hoot underwater missile is derived from the Russian VA-111 Shkval missile. Iran has officially denied any

link between the weapons systems. The weapons both use supercavitation to reach velocities much higher than

those of a traditional torpedo. The newly-disclosed reports reveal that there were several Shkval trials conducted

in Iran in January and February 2004. The documents also contain a 2007 contract awarded to Iran's Aerospace

Industries Organization, covering the "design, production and testing of model hydro-reactive compound engines

[presumably the missile's gas generator] for the Hoot missile," according to the FAS. Experts predict that due to

the high cost of building the missile's power plant, an Iranian-made Hoot missile will likely not be in production

until 2010.While the Russian Shkval missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, it is unclear whether the

Iranian Hoot has the same capability.

¡ªDoug Richardson, "Leaked documents show origins of Iran's Hoot missile," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 3

February 2009; "Iran's Testing of Russian Shkval Torpedo Documented," Secrecy News from the FAS Project on

Government Secrecy, 21 January 2009; "VA-111 Shkval torpedo," Military Periscope, periscope.;

"Iran Claims to Have Test-Fired Missile That Can Destroy Warships," Associated Press, 3 April 2009; .

2 February 2009

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces the launch of the country's first domestically-built satellite

into orbit. The 27-kilogram telecommunications satellite, named Omid, was launched by an Iranian Safir-2 rocket.

The first stage of the rocket is very similar to the liquid-propellant Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Some analysts say that

such a launch indicates that Iran has the technology to launch long-range ballistic missiles: "there's almost always a

link between satellites and nuclear weapons. It's the same delivery vehicle," says James Lewis, an expert on

defense technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The U.S. State Department and other

Western governments have expressed similar concerns.

¡ªBorzou Daragahi, "Iran satellite launch raises alarm in West," The Los Angeles Times, 4 February 2009; Richard

Related content is available on the website for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, .

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the

Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been

independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright ? 2011 by MIIS.

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