Beltway Confidential

Iran’s Nur satellite is a de facto ballistic missile test

By Tom Rogan
Published April 22, 2020 5:40pm ET
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Iran’s Nur satellite is a de facto ballistic missile test
A Sabre short-range ballistic missile launches in June 2017 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, for a test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement, an advanced missile defense system. Hypersonic missiles might be able to penetrate PAC-3 and similar systems. | (U.S. Army photo by U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command)

Iran successfully launched its Nur satellite into orbit on Wednesday.

While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the Nur is a military satellite designed solely to monitor military targets, that’s just a cover story. This was actually a successful satellite launch serving the purpose of a successful ballistic missile test. It was designed to advance Iran’s understanding of orbital dynamics and its development of a functioning intercontinental ballistic missile program.

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Tag:

Ballistic Missiles Iran Weapons