Iran Missile Milestones
(Updated April 2009)
1985: Then-speaker of the Iranian Majlis Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani leads a high-level delegation to Libya, Syria, North Korea and China, reportedly to acquire missiles.
1985: Iran receives its first Scud-Bs from Libya.
1987: China sells Iran "Silkworm" anti-ship cruise missiles.
1987: Iran reportedly receives approximately 100 Scud B missiles from North Korea. Iran had allegedly agreed to finance North Korea’s longer-range missile program in exchange for missile technology and the option to buy the finished missiles.
1988: China agrees to provide Iran with equipment and know-how to develop and test medium-range ballistic missiles.
1988: Iran successfully tests the 160-kilometer range Mushak-160 missile.
1990: China and Iran reportedly sign a 10-year agreement for scientific cooperation and the transfer of military technology.
1991: Iran test-fires a ballistic missile identified by U.S. intelligence as a North Korean Scud-C.
1991: Syrian chief of staff General Hikmat Shihabi reportedly visits Tehran to discuss building a factory in Syria for joint development and production of surface-to-surface missiles.
1992: The U.S. Department of State sanctions the Iranian Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) for engaging in "missile technology proliferation activities" with North Korea.
1993: North Korea successfully tests the Nodong missile to a range of about 500 kilometers.
1995: Iran receives four Scud Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) from North Korea.
1996: The State Department sanctions North Korea’s Changgwang Sinyong Corporation and Iran’s Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics and State Purchasing Office for "missile technology proliferation activities."
1996: Iran test-fires a Chinese-built C-802 surface-to-surface cruise missile.
1996: U.S. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY) states during a Congressional hearing on China's military sales to Iran that U.S. intelligence believes China has "delivered dozens, perhaps hundreds, of missile guidance systems and computerized tools to Iran."
1996: The Washington Times reports that, according to a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report entitled "Arms Transfers to State Sponsors of Terrorism," China has supplied Iran with missile technology including gyroscopes and accelerometers as well as test equipment and components for an advanced radar system.
November 1996: Iran reportedly fires, for the first time, a Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile from one of its 10 Chinese-built "Houdong" patrol boats.
June 1997: Iran reportedly tests two Chinese-built C-801K air-launched cruise missiles from a vintage F-4 Phantom, marking the country’s first successful test of an air-launched cruise missile.
September 1997: The Russian Scientific and Production Center Inor reportedly agrees to supply Iran's Instrumentation Factories Plan with a high-strength steel alloy and three types of alloy foil used to shield missile guidance equipment.
December 1997: U.S. satellite reconnaissance reportedly picks up the heat signature of a missile engine test at the Shahid Hemat Industrial Group research facility, south of Tehran.
January 1998: According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian opposition group, Iran has completed development of the Shahab-3 intermediate range missile and it is ready for production.
July 1998: Iran tests the Shahab-3 missile. According to Iranian sources, the 16-meter long missile can carry a 1,000 kilogram payload 1,300 kilometers. The missile is believed to be single-stage, liquid-fueled, scaled-up version of North Korea's Nodong missile.
July 1998: The State Department imposes sanctions on seven Russian entities for engaging in “proliferation activities related to Iran’s missile programs.” Designated entities include Baltic State Technical University, Europalace 2000, Glavkosmos, Grafit, INOR Scientific Enter, MOSO Company, and Polyus Scientific Production Association.
September 1998: Iran publicly displays the Shahab-3 missile at a military parade. Also on display are five air-to-air missiles, Chinese C-801 and C-802 anti-ship missiles, and three Iranian-built, solid propellant surface-to-surface missiles, including the Zelzal-2, the Nazeat, and the Shahin.
January 1999: The State Department imposes sanctions on Russia’s D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), and The Scientific Research and Design Institute of Power Technology for engaging in “proliferation activities related to Iran’s nuclear and/or missile programs.”
February 1999: Iran's defense minister Ali Shamkhani announces that the Shahab-4 missile is in production not for military purposes, but for launching a satellite. U.S. intelligence reportedly believes the missile is derived from the 1950s-era Soviet SS-4 "Sandal" medium-range missile, which had a maximum range of 2,000 kilometers.
April 1999: Iran announces the successful test fire of the Sayyad-1, an advanced anti-aircraft missile designed and manufactured by the Aerospace Industries Organization.
August 1999: China reportedly agrees to help Iran upgrade its FL-10 anti-ship cruise missiles.
October 1999: Iran reportedly sells Scud B and Scud C missiles to the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Iranian military officers and technicians are on hand to help assemble the missiles.
November 1999: U.S. intelligence reportedly believes that North Korea recently sold Iran 12 Nodong missile engines.
January 2000: Iran commissions three production lines at the Education and Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense. They will allegedly help Iran become self-sufficient in the production of HTPB resin, aluminium powder and potassium chlorite – all of which are useful in the production of solid rocket propellant.
February 2000: Iran reportedly tests a Shahab-3 missile equipped with a North Korean engine. The missile was launched from a TEL at a Revolutionary Guards airbase. Iranian sources say the missile has an inertial navigation guidance system and a circular error probable (CEP) of approximately three kilometers.
March 2000: Israeli and U.S. officials reportedly agree that Iran can deploy the Shahab-3 missile.
March 2000: The Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-178) is signed into law, authorizing sanctions against persons transferring to Iran materials and technology capable of contributing to Iran’s cruise and ballistic missile programs.
April 2000: The State Department imposes sanctions on Changgwang Sinyong, a North Korean company, and Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, Aerospace Industries Organization, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG) and SANAM Industrial Group for missile technology proliferation activities.
July 2000: Iran successfully tests the Shahab-3 missile, according to Iranian state media.
August 2000: In its report on worldwide proliferation, the CIA says Iran has made considerable progress in the development of ballistic missiles, and that entities in Russia, North Korea, and China continued to supply the largest amount of ballistic missile-related goods, technology, and expertise to Iran.
September 2000: Iran tests the Shahab-3 missile, but the missile reportedly explodes shortly after launch.
May 2002: Iran tests the Shahab-3 missile. According to Iranian authorities, the test is successful.
July 2002: Iran tests the Shahab-3 missile. The test is reportedly unsuccessful.
September 2002: Iran claims to have successfully flight tested the Fateh 110, a single-stage, solid-fueled missile, with at least a 200 kilometer range. Iran's state media reports the inauguration of a facility to produce the Fateh 110.
May 2003: The State Department imposes sanctions on two Moldovan companies, Cuanta S.A., Computer and Communicatti SRL, on a Moldovan national, Mikhail Pavlovich Vladov, and on Iran’s Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group for contributing to missile programs in Iran.
July 2003: On July 20, a ceremony is held to mark the distribution of the Shahab-3 to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The ceremony follows by several weeks what an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman calls the "final test" of the Shahab-3 missile.
November 2003: Iran's defense ministry announces that Iran does not have any program "to build the Shahab 4 missile."
November 2003: In its report to Congress on worldwide proliferation, the CIA says that Iran's ballistic missile inventory is among the largest in the Middle East and that entities in the former Soviet Union, North Korea, and China have helped Iran progress in ballistic missile production.
January 2004: Iran begins production of the Raad (Thunder) cruise missile and the DM-3b active-radar sensor for the Noor anti-ship missile.
May 2004: Iran says it has begun manufacturing a cruise missile called the Kowsar (Kosar), an indigenous stealth anti-ship missile made by the Aerospace Industries Organization. The missile is said to have three variants: shore-launched, air-launched, and ship-launched.
August 2004: Iran announces the successful test of an upgraded Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile, which reportedly is longer than the original version, with a larger fuel tank, and a “baby bottle-shaped” reentry vehicle and an increased range.
September 2004: Iran displays a number of missiles during the Holy Defense Week military parade, including the Zelzal, Nazeat, Shahab-2 and Shahab-3. Reportedly, two Shahab-3 variants featuring a triconic warhead, and assessed to have improved ranges of 1,500 km and 2,000 km, respectively, are displayed.
October 2004: Iran claims that it has successfully tested a more accurate version of the Shahab-3 missile.
December 2004: According to NCRI, the Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran is developing several clandestine missiles, including the Ghadr, the Shahab-4, and the Zelzal 2, and is working on nuclear and chemical warheads.
May 2005: Iran’s Defense Minister announces the test of a solid-fuel engine for the Shahab 3, in an effort to increase the durability and range of the missile.
June 2005: President George W. Bush issues Executive Order 13382 on Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferators and Their Supporters. The order freezes the assets of specially designated proliferators of WMD and WMD delivery systems, as well as members of their support networks; four Iranian entities are designated under this Order including Aerospace Industries Organization, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group, and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
December 2005: According to NCRI, Iran is using underground facilities to hide missile command and control centers and to build nuclear-capable missiles.
March-April 2006: Iran holds “Holy Prophet” war games in the Persian Gulf, involving the IRGC Naval Force and Iran’s regular naval and armed forces. According to Iran, missiles tested include the Shahab-2, the Kowsar, the sonar-evading Hoot (Hud, Hut) underwater missile, the surface-to-air Fajr-3, and an upgraded Nour (Noor) cruise missile. Reportedly, the Nour (Noor) may be a variant of the Chinese C-802, the Kowsar a variant of the Chinese C-801, and the Hoot based on the Russian-developed Shkval rocket-powered torpedo.
June 2006: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13382 on four Chinese companies, Beijing Alite Technologies Company Ltd. (ALCO), LIMMT Economic and Trade Company, Ltd., China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC), and on the U.S.-based CGWIC representative, G.W. Aerospace, Inc., for supplying Iran with missile-related and dual-use components.
July 2006: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions on Sanam Industrial Group and Ya Mahdi Industries Group, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, for their ties to missile proliferation; both are Iranian companies subordinate to Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization.
August-September 2006: During Blow of Zolfaqar war games, Iran claims to have successfully tested a radar-evading, ship-launched missile called the Sagheb, and a new surface-to-surface missile called the Saeqeh. U.S. military intelligence reportedly determines that the video of the Sagheb test released by the Iranian government is actually of an earlier Chinese missile test.
November 2006: Iran tests several missiles during IRGC-led “Great Prophet 2” military maneuvers, including the Shahab-2, Shahab-3, Fateh-110, Zelzal, and Scud-B. Iran claims the Shahab-3 was tested with cluster warheads and achieved a range of approximately 1,900 km. Anti-ship missiles, including the Noor, Kosar, and Nasr, are also reportedly tested.
December 2006: The U.N. Security Council adopts resolution 1737, imposing sanctions to prevent the transfer to Iran of materials, as well as technical or financial assistance, which might contribute to Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile development. The resolution designates eight Iranian entities involved in missile activities, for which financial resources are to be frozen.
January 2007: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions on Bank Sepah, a state-owned Iranian financial institution, pursuant to Executive Order 13382. Bank Sepah is described by Treasury as “the financial linchpin of Iran’s missile procurement network.”
February 2007: Iran tests the Tor-M1 short-range air defense system provided by Russia. The Tor-M1 system has a reported range of 12km, which may be increased to 20km. Iran’s IRCG Air Force Commander claims that the system is capable of tracking 48 targets and engaging 8 targets using electro-optic and infrared comprehensive systems.
February 2007: Iran claims to have tested a suborbital research rocket as part of the country’s space program, which may include an effort to develop an independent satellite launch capability. U.S. missile launch sensors reportedly detect no such test.
March 2007: The U.N. Security Council adopts resolution 1747, imposing further sanctions to prevent the transfer of arms and financial assistance to Iran, and designating additional Iranian entities involved in ballistic missile activities, for which financial resources must be frozen.
June 2007: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions on two Iranian companies involved in missile work for Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), which directs Iran’s missile program. Fajr Industries Group is an AIO subordinate involved in the production of missile guidance systems and Mizan Machine Manufacturing Group is an AIO front company involved in procurement.
September 2007: Iran displays the “Ghadr” missile (also called Qadr-1 ) during a military parade, claiming it to be an upgraded version of the medium-range Shahab-3 with a range of 1,800 km. Experts say the Ghadr appears identical to a Shahab-3 variant displayed in 2004. The Ghadr, along with other missiles displayed during the military parade, including the Shahab-3, the Fateh-110 and Zelzal-3, are in possession of the IRGC Air Force.
November 2007: Iran says it has built a new missile, the “Ashura” (or Ashoura), with a range of 2,000 km. Descriptions of the Ashura vary from a multi-stage, solid-propellant missile to a missile that uses non-SCUD technology. It is reportedly depicted in a U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) report as a stretched version of the liquid-propelled Shahab-3, fitted with larger tail fins, and in an April 2008 Israeli report as a two-stage solid-propellant missile with a triconic nose shape.
February 2008: Iran claims to have successfully launched its Kavoshgar 1 rocket into space. The launch was one of several aerospace projects unveiled. Iran also inaugurates a space center with a satellite control and tracking station and displayes its “Omid” satellite. Iran claims that the Kavoshgar is a two-stage rocket, that it reached an altitude of 200 km, and that it successfully made contact with the ground station. Private analysts believe that the Kavoshgar is a single-stage, liquid-fueled missile and that the space center, located 230 km southeast of Tehran, has the potential to be used in developing long-range missiles.
March 2008: The U.N. Security Council adopts resolution 1803, extending travel restrictions and asset freezes to – and in some cases instituting a travel ban on – additional Iranian entities, and barring Iran from buying almost all nuclear and missile-related technology.
July 2008: Iran claims to have successfully test-fired a Shahab-3 missile with a range of 2,000 km, as well as Zelzal and Fateh surface-to-surface missiles, during “Great Prophet III” war games run by the IRGC in the Persian Gulf.
August 2008: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions on two Iranian firms, the Safety Equipment Procurement Company (SEP Co.) and Joza Industrial Company, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, for their links to procurement for Iran’s missile program.
August 2008: Iran launches the “Safir,” a two-stage, liquid fueled rocket based on the Shahab-3 missile, according to analysts. The rocket is about 22 meters long, with a diameter of 1.25 meters, and weighing over 26 tons. According to Iran, the rocket is intended as a satellite launch vehicle. Contrary to initial reports, however, the launch does not place a satellite into orbit.
September 2008: The Treasury Department imposes financial sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and eighteen of its subsidiaries, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, for facilitating shipments of military cargo for MODAFL and its subordinate entities. MODAFL has brokered transactions involving ballistic missile-related materials and technologies.
September 2008: The Treasury Department sanctions six Iranian military firms, pursuant to Executive Order 13382. Three of these firms, Iran Electronics Industries, Shiraz Electronics Industries and Iran Communications Industries, make communications equipment for Iran’s military. Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) develops and produces unmanned aerial vehicles and other military aircraft and its subsidiary Farasakht Industries makes aerospace tools and equipment. These entities are owned or controlled by MODAFL.
November 2008: Iran claims to have successfully tested the Sejjil (Sejil), a two-stage, solid fuel, surface-to-surface missile with a range of nearly 2,000 km. According to private analysts, the missile appears to be larger than Iran’s Shahab-3, with a total length of about 22 meters, and share some design features with Soviet-era ballistic missiles.
December 2008: Western intelligence sources reportedly state that in 2008 Iran more than tripled the number of operational Shahab-3 missiles, with over 100 missiles now delivered to the IRGC.
February 2009: Iran successfully launches the “Omid” telecommunications and research satellite into orbit using its own rocket, the Safir 2. The rocket is 22 meters long, weighs 26 tons and has a diameter of 1.25 meters, according to the head of Iran’s Space Agency. It is a two-stage rocket that lofted the 27 kg Omid into low earth orbit at an altitude of 250 km.