Iran has announced that its forces have launched the Sejjil missile for the first time since the outbreak of conflict in the region in late February.
Nicknamed “dancing missile”, the weapon is one of Iran’s more sophisticated ballistic weapons and, analysts suggest, can move around during the end part of its flight path, making it much harder to defend against an incoming missile.
State-linked Iranian reports and other media channels stated the missile had been fired as part of a larger barrage of attacks aimed at military sites connected to Israel and allied states in the region.
The Sejjil is a two-stage, solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile that can travel a distance of around 2,000 km and carries a payload of 700 kg. Unlike most other Iranian missiles, which use liquid fuel, it is quicker to get moving from the initial stages and so easier to move from location to location during battle.
Defense analysts claim the missile is a maneuverable re-entry vehicle, or MRV, and can change the direction of its attack as it enters the final stages of flight. It is these movements that are said to be causing military analysts to term it the “dancing missile” and may even complicate the ability of layered air defense systems to intercept it.
Iran’s IRGC previously called the missile a part of its defense program. The missile was successfully tested in 2008 to replace previous liquid fuel-based weapons such as the Shahab. The MRV capability was said to give it increased strategic advantages over older missiles that used liquid fuel, as they would need more time to be moved, primed, fueled, and readied for launch.
The weapon’s approximate 2,000 km range is also useful as it would allow Iran to target sites as far away as Israel, or any US military installations within the region. Combined with its ability to move about as it enters the final stages, it is seen as a strategically significant asset in Tehran’s missile arsenal.
The Sejjil is reportedly not the only projectile to have been fired as part of a recent escalation of attacks and is also accompanied by other missiles and drones. This latest round of strikes has seen experts see a significant advancement in Iran’s weapon technology, as many systems that have previously only been tested are now being used on a real battlefield.
This round of strikes was initiated after 28 February, and, since then, hundreds of missiles and drones have been fired from and across the region by numerous actors.
