Kheibar Shekan

Reference data current as of March 2026.

The Kheibar Shekan ("Kheibar Breaker") represents a generational leap in Iranian missile design. At just 5,400 kg — roughly one-third the weight of liquid-fuel Shahab-3 derivatives — it achieves comparable range (1,450 km) in a far more compact and concealable package. Its solid-fuel motor eliminates the lengthy fuelling process that makes liquid-fuel missiles vulnerable to pre-emptive strike. The dual-launch TEL, mounted on a commercial 10-wheel truck, allows two missiles to be fired from a single vehicle, and the system is designed for storage and launch from Iran's underground tunnel bases. Iran claims terminal speeds of Mach 7–10, though Western analysts assess this as ballistic terminal velocity rather than sustained hypersonic flight.

• Smallest and most concealable Iranian MRBM — fits on a commercial truck chassis
• One-third the weight of comparable Shahab-3-class MRBMs
• Tri-conic reentry vehicle provides terminal manoeuvre stability
• Stored and launched from underground tunnel bases, complicating ISR detection
• Dual-launch TEL doubles the firepower per vehicle
• More jam-resistant satellite-aided INS than older Shahab-3 derivatives

The Kheibar Shekan saw its first combat use on 13 April 2024 during True Promise 1, alongside Emad and Ghadr MRBMs. Its compact size and solid-fuel propulsion make it one of Iran's most operationally responsive strategic weapons — it can be dispersed, set up, and fired far more quickly than liquid-fuel alternatives. It has featured prominently in subsequent operations through True Promise 3 and 4.

• GlobalSecurity.org — Kheibar Shekan
• Wikipedia — Kheibar Shekan