Shahab-2

Shahab-2
Shahab-2
Type	Tactical SRBM
Service history
In service	1990–2016 (in Iran); present (in Syria)
Used by	Iran; Syria
Production history
Manufacturer	Iran
Specifications
Mass	6,370–6,500 kg
Length	11.37–12.29 m
Diameter	0.885 m
Warhead	770kg
Engine	Liquid
Operational; range	500 km
Guidance; system	inertial
Accuracy	500m CEP

The Shahab-2 (Persian: شهاب ۲, romanized: Ŝahāb 2, meaning "Meteor-2") is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile. It is based on the North Korean Hwasong-6 (modified version of the Hwasong-5, itself a modification of the R-17 Elbrus).^[5]

Background

On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles. The missiles ranged from 300 km to up to 2,000 km. Iranian experts have made some changes to Shahab-3 missiles installing cluster warheads in them with the capacity to carry 1,400 bombs."

These launches come after some United States-led military exercises in the Persian Gulf on October 30, 2006, meant to train for blocking the transport of weapons of mass destruction.^[6]

Variants

Shahab is the name of a class of Iranian missiles, service time of 1988–present, which comes in six variants: Shahab-1, Shahab-2, Shahab-3, Shahab-4, Shahab-5, Shahab-6.