| Zolfaghar | |
| Type: | SRBM[1] |
| Origin: | Iran |
| Is Missile: | yes |
| Service: | 2017-present |
| Manufacturer: | IRGC AF |
| Variants: | Zolfaqar Basir |
| Length: | 10.3 m |
| Width: | 0.68 m |
| Payload Capacity: | 500+ kg High Explosive, submunitions |
| Vehicle Range: | 700 km |
| Guidance: | INS, GPS[2] |
| Propellant: | Single-stage Solid-propelled |
| Accuracy: | 100 m CEP estimated |
| Ref: | |
The Zolfaghar (fa|ذوالفقار) missile is an Iranian road-mobile,[2] single-stage, solid-propelled SRBM[1] named after Zulfiqar the sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is believed to be derived from the Fateh-110 SRBM family[2] (possibly the Fateh-313 missile).[1] The Aerospace Industries Organization unveiled the weapon in 2016.[3] It entered service in 2017.[1] It was first used in the 2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike and was therefore one of the first used mid-range missiles since 30 years.[4]
According to Iranian sources, the Zolfaghar missile has a length of 10.3m, a diameter of 0.68m, and a launch weight of 4615kg with a warhead weighing 590kg that is designed to separate in midcourse phase, making it more difficult to detect, track and intercept than unibody missiles like the 9K720 Iskander.[5] According to Iranian media sources, a reported naval variant was developed called the "Zolfaqar Basir", which the IRGC claims has a range of more than 700 km.[6]
It was first unveiled during a military parade aboard a vehicle decorated with an anti-Zionist banner[2] on 25 September 2016[1] after which Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan claimed that the missile had a range of 700 km.[1] [2] The Iranian Ministry of Defense would later on release a video of its testing.[1] On 17 June 2017 Iran launched six Zolfaghar missiles into Syria towards the Deir ez-Zor region on ISIS targets as a response to the attack in Tehran on 8 June 2017.[1]
In February 2019 Iran unveiled a new longer range version of the Zolfaghar missile called the Dezful missile with a range of 1000 km, this is an MRBM.[7]
On 7 March 2021, Yemeni Houthi attacked different locations in Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and armed drones with a Zolfaghar ballistic missile along with several Samad-3 loitering munitions targeted the Aramco oil facilities at Ras Tanura.[8] [9]