Missile Shower System

The Missile Shower System[1] (Persian: سامانه تیربار موشکی) is an automated, rail-mounted multiple ballistic missile launcher designed to enable a rapid barrage of medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) to be launched from Iran's underground missile silos. Each system has the ability to carry and fire five Emad precision-guided missiles with a range of 1700 km and maneuverable warheads as shown in the unveiling-ceremony. The system has been built by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was unveiled on November 4th, 2020.[2][3][4]]

Missile Shower System
TypeBallistic missile launcher
Place of origin Iran
Service history
In serviceSince 2020
Used byIslamic Republic of Iran
Production history
DesignerIran (IRGC)
Designed4 November 2020 (unveiling)
ManufacturerIRGCAF
ProducedSince 2020

Overview

Each system consists of a rail mounted wagon with the ability to vertically carry five missiles, the vertically-stowed missile "magazine" then brings the groups of missiles into their launch positions for rapid, consecutive launching from the underground silo.[5][6][7] This system is the first of its kind, and has no parallels anywhere else in the world in the missile arsenals of other countries.[8]

The Shower System offers several advantages compared to the conventional method of launching a single missile from a single silo at a time:

  1. In a total war scenario, especially fighting an enemy with air superiority (e.g. the U.S.), when underground silos can only launch missiles one at a time, they can only launch a few missiles before being detected and hit by a counter strike. The missile magazine system allows Iran to launch significantly more missiles before any likely retaliation.[6]
  2. It allows Iran to overwhelm enemy anti-ballistic missile defense systems with a rapid barrage of a large number of medium-range ballistic missiles.[5][6]
  3. Since the missiles on their individual platforms are ready to fire, there is no need to reload individual launchers using a crane or trans-loader, thus storing the missiles more efficiently and taking up less space at the site.[5][7]

A missile magazine-type base has been discovered to be under construction near Khorgo, Hormozgan Province.[9][10]

Unveiling

The Iranian "Missile Shower System" has been unveiled[11][12] on 4 November 2020 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Major General Hossein Salami. Salami said at the mentioned unveiling ceremony: "Our missile power guarantees the withdrawal of enemies (from the region)." He also added: our deterrent and defense capabilities provide Iran with great power which supports the country in demonstrating its political will and imposing it on the enemy if necessary.[8][13]

See also

References

  1. "Iranian press review: IRGC sends a message to Biden with new missile launcher".
  2. IRGC unveils a new missile system bbc.com, Retrieved 6 November 2020
  3. Iran unveils homemade ballistic missile launcher xinhuanet.com
  4. Unveiling of the "Ballistic Missile Launcher" system aparat.com, Retrieved 6 November 2020
  5. Newdick, Thomas (4 November 2020). "Iran Now Has Mobile Ballistic Missile Launching "Magazines" For Its Underground Bases". The Drive. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  6. Hambling, David. "Iran Shows Off Rapid-Fire Underground Missile Base That Could Be Game-Changing". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  7. "i24NEWS". www.i24news.tv. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  8. IRGC Unveils New Ballistic Missile System radiofarda.com, Retrieved 6 November 2020
  9. Lieser, Ethen Kim (2021-03-18). "Satellite Images: Iran Constructs New Ballistic Missile Launch Positions". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  10. Lab, The Intel (2021-03-17). "Iran has built new ballistic missile launch positions, satellite images show". The Intel Lab. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. Iran unveils homemade ballistic missile launcher xinhuanet.com
  12. Unveiling of the "Ballistic Missile Launcher" system aparat.com, Retrieved 6 November 2020
  13. Iran unveils new missile launching system al-monitor.com, Retrieved 6 November 2020
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