Iran’s Sejjil-2 ‘dancing missile’ used for first time in this war: The solid-fuel weapon that can strike 2,000 km away

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday carried out a new round of missile strikes against Israeli targets. For the first time, Tehran launched Sejjil-2 missiles since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war that started on February 28.IRGC carried out the latest wave of retaliatory strikes as part of its ongoing military campaign against Israel, saying that the attacks targeted strategic and military locations inside Tel Aviv.The group further said that the attacks were part of the 54th wave of missile strikes carried out under 'Operation True Promise 4', according to state news agency Islam Times. In a statement, the IRGC's Public Relations Office said that the latest barrage included a mix of ballistic missiles such as Khorramshahr, Khaybar-shekan, Qadr and Emad, along with the strategic Sejjil missile.According to the statement, the Khorramshahr missile, which carries a warhead weighing around two tonnes was also used in the strikes. Iranian officials said the missiles targeted locations linked to Israeli military operations and decision-making infrastructure.

The IRGC claimed that sites connected to Israel’s defence industries and areas where Israeli forces were gathered were among the targets hit during the attacks.

The missile got its nickname 'dancing missile'The missile launches come amid the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran that began after large-scale strikes were launched inside Iran.Iran has said the conflict began after American and Israeli forces carried out a military campaign following the killing of the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior military commanders and civilians.The attacks reportedly included air strikes on both military and civilian sites across Iran, causing heavy damage and casualties.In response, Iran has launched several waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and US military positions across the region.

What are Sejjil missiles?

The Sejjil missile is one of Iran’s most advanced ballistic missile systems. It is a two-stage, solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed domestically by Iran.The missile has a reported range of about 2,000 kilometres, allowing it to reach targets across much of the Middle East. It can carry a single warhead weighing around 700 kilograms, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). One of the key advantages of the Sejjil system is its solid-fuel propulsion. Unlike liquid-fuel missiles that need to be refuelled before launch, solid-fuel missiles can be launched more quickly, making them harder to detect or destroy before firing.The missile is also road-mobile, meaning it can be transported and launched from mobile platforms.

Sejjil missile development and history

Development of the Sejjil missile started in the late 1990s, building on earlier Iranian missile programmes such as the Zelzal short-range ballistic missile.The first successful test launch took place in 2008, followed by another test in 2009 aimed at improving the missile’s guidance and navigation systems.Several additional tests were conducted in the following years, including one that reportedly flew nearly 1,900 kilometres.Iran has displayed the missile publicly during military parades alongside other systems such as the Shahab-3 and Ghadr-1 missiles.After about a decade of inactivity, the Sejjil resurfaced in 2021 when Iran launched it as part of the January Great Prophet 15 military exercises.