Iran’s Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile has drawn renewed attention after Tehran said it used the system in an attack on the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan. The missile is reported to reach speeds of Mach 2 to Mach 3 as it approaches its target.
Its combination of terminal speed, satellite guidance and a maneuvering warhead is central to claims about its operational significance. Claims that the missile is difficult for advanced air-defense systems to intercept remain assessments linked to its reported performance.
A Missile Built for Rapid Deployment
Kheibar Shekan is a medium-range ballistic missile introduced by Iran in 2022. It belongs to Iran’s third generation of solid-fuel missile systems, a design that supports launch readiness compared with systems requiring fueling before use.
The missile is 11.4 meters long and has a stated range of up to 1,450 kilometers. That reach places it among Iran’s important assets for medium-range strike operations.
| Category | Kheibar Shekan Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Medium-range ballistic missile |
| Introduced | 2022 |
| Length | 11.4 meters |
| Range | Up to 1,450 kilometers |
| Warhead weight | About 550 kilograms |
| Terminal speed | Mach 2 to Mach 3 |
Flexible Launch Options
The missile’s relatively compact size is also associated with flexible launch options. It is said to be capable of firing from different types of launchers rather than a single dedicated platform.
Euronews, as cited by CNN Indonesia, reported accounts that the missile could even be launched from ordinary commercial vehicles, including civilian trucks. Such a possibility could make pre-launch detection and destruction more difficult.
Kheibar Shekan carries a high-explosive warhead weighing about 550 kilograms. Iranian state media has said the weapon can reach Mach 2 to Mach 3 during its terminal approach.
Iran’s Claim Over the Al-Azraq Attack
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, said the strike on Al-Azraq took place early Thursday Western Indonesian Time. The IRGC said it had targeted facilities for storing US fighter jets and a new US command-and-control center in West Asia.
The stated targets and the claimed effects of the attack originated from the IRGC statement. The organization described the operation as retaliation for US attacks it linked to the evacuation of children with cancer in Ahvaz and to a March attack said to have killed 168 children at a school in Minab.
In a message directed at Jordanian society, the IRGC urged that Jordanian territory not be used for “crimes against children.” The statement identified the relevant facility as a major base in Al-Azraq, Jordan.
Previous Reported Use
Kheibar Shekan was designed by scientists from the IRGC Air Force and was unveiled in 2022 by General Mohammad Bagheri, then chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces. The missile was reportedly first used in the “Sadiq Promise 1” and “Sadiq Promise 2” operations in April and October 2024.
Iran was reported to have launched about 180 missiles toward Israel during those two operations. The reported launches were described as a response to the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan.
The reported use of the missile at Al-Azraq again places its range, maneuvering warhead and launcher flexibility at the center of attention. Those features make Kheibar Shekan a closely watched part of Iran’s regional strike capability.
