Is Missile: | yes |
Kowsar | |
Type: | Anti-ship missile |
Manufacturer: | Iran |
Service: | 2006 |
Engine: | Solid rocket engine |
Weight: | 100 kg |
Length: | 2.507 m |
Diameter: | 0.18 m |
Wingspan: | 0.587 m (unfolded); 0.450 m (folded) |
Speed: | Mach 0.8 |
Vehicle Range: | 15-20 km |
Altitude: | 15-20 m (flight) |
Filling: | 29 kg time-delayed semi-armour-piercing high-explosive |
Guidance: | TV-homing, Infra-red, millimetre radar |
Launch Platform: | Ground-based vehicles and Zolfaghar class fast attack craft |
Kowsar is a short-range, land-based anti-ship missile made by Iran. It can defeat electronic jamming systems and "cannot be thrown off course", according to Iranian officials.[1]
The Kowsar designation apparently (Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance 2006) is used to refer to two different missiles: Iranian-produced versions of the PRC C-701 and the TL-10A.
Some news reports indicate that this was the missile used on July 14, 2006 in the 2006 Lebanon War when Hezbollah fired two at Israeli warships.[2] [3] One of the missiles hit the corvette INS Hanit, causing heavy damage and the deaths of four Israeli servicemen.[4] The other missile hit an Egyptian merchant ship causing heavy damage; it is reported that all the crew survived.[5]