The missile’s danger lies not only in its range and payload but in its maneuverable re‑entry vehicle, which allows it to alter its trajectory during descent, complicating interception.

By Hezy Laing

Iran’s unveiling of the Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile, also known as the Kheibar, has dramatically escalated regional security concerns and accelerated Israel’s push to field its next‑generation Arrow‑4 interceptor.

The Khorramshahr‑4, presented publicly on June 4, 2023, by Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, represents the most advanced iteration of Iran’s Khorramshahr missile family and stands among the most formidable weapons in the Islamic Republic’s arsenal.

The missile is classified as a medium‑range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a declared range of 2,000 kilometers, though some defense analysts believe its true potential may extend closer to 3,000–4,000 kilometers depending on payload configuration.

What makes the Khorramshahr‑4 particularly alarming is its enormous 1,500–1,800 kilogram warhead, one of the heaviest deployed on any regional missile system.

Its liquid‑fuel engine, derived from North Korean Hwasong technology, allows rapid boost‑phase acceleration, while its reported 10–30 meter circular error probable (CEP) gives it a level of precision far beyond earlier Iranian designs.

The missile’s name, “Kheibar,” referencing the historic Battle of Khaybar, underscores Tehran’s intended messaging toward Israel.

The missile’s danger lies not only in its range and payload but in its maneuverable re‑entry vehicle, which allows it to alter its trajectory during descent, complicating interception.

Its heavy warhead is capable of delivering high‑explosive, submunition, or potentially future unconventional payloads.

Combined with Iran’s expanding arsenal of solid‑fuel missiles, the Khorramshahr‑4 represents a leap toward a survivable, accurate, and strategically destabilizing strike capability that can threaten Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and U.S. bases across the Middle East.

The Khorramshahr‑4 is exceptionally difficult to intercept because its maneuverable re‑entry vehicle can shift its trajectory during descent, defeating traditional prediction‑based interception models.

Its high terminal velocity, heavy warhead mass, and reduced radar cross‑section compress the defender’s reaction time, forcing systems like Arrow‑3 and Arrow‑4 to engage under extreme time pressure and complex tracking conditions.

Because the Khorramshahr‑4 reaches terminal speeds exceeding Mach 12, its flight time from Iran to Israel is extremely short.

A launch from central Iran toward Tel Aviv would take approximately 7–10 minutes, leaving Israeli early‑warning systems only seconds to detect, track, classify, and cue interceptors before the warhead begins its maneuvering descent.

In response to this evolving threat, Israel is accelerating deployment of the Arrow‑4, the newest interceptor in its multilayered missile defense network.

According to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) CEO Boaz Levy, speaking at a defense conference in Tel Aviv on February 17, 2026, the Arrow‑4 is expected to enter operational service “within months,” following rapid development progress.

Levy emphasized that the Arrow‑4 is engineered specifically to counter “the threats of tomorrow,” a clear reference to advanced Iranian ballistic systems such as the Khorramshahr‑4.

The interceptor will replace the aging Arrow‑2 and is designed to defeat maneuvering re‑entry vehicles, heavier warheads, and faster boost‑phase acceleration profiles.

As Iran continues to expand its long‑range missile capabilities, Israel’s Arrow‑4 stands as a critical technological counterweight, ensuring that even Tehran’s most advanced ballistic missiles face a robust and evolving defensive shield.

The post Tehran’s terrifying new Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile and Israel’s Arrow‑4 solution appeared first on World Israel News.

The Arrow missile defense array is a central pillar of Israel’s multilayered air defense network, designed to counter ballistic missile threats.

By Lilach Shoval, Israel Hayom via JNS

Israel is expected to begin operational deployment of the Arrow 4 missile defense system in the coming months, a move that could significantly upgrade its ability to counter aerial threats, Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Defense Tech conference at Expo Tel Aviv, Levy said the new system would boost Israel’s interception success rates and provide advanced capabilities against emerging threats, particularly from Iran.

“Israel Aerospace Industries develops new capabilities every day, and we are working to bring them to operational readiness,” Levy said. “The entry of the Arrow 4 system into operational service will increase Israel’s interception success.”

The Arrow missile defense array is a central pillar of Israel’s multilayered air defense network, designed to counter ballistic missile threats.

Arrow 4 is set to replace the older Arrow 2 interceptor for within-atmosphere interceptions and complement the more advanced Arrow 3 system, which operates outside the Earth’s atmosphere at very high altitudes.

“Israeli technology has proven itself to be among the best in the world. It is well adapted to the missions we face in the Middle East. We are not doing this because we want to, but because we have no other choice,” Levy said. “

The Israeli public should know that the Defense Ministry, the military and the defense industries are working together to provide the best possible solutions for protecting Israel.”

Looking ahead, Levy said the defense sector is increasingly focused on integrating autonomous systems and artificial intelligence into its platforms.

He added that additional surprises could emerge in Israel’s next confrontation with its enemies, noting that new capabilities are continually being developed and advanced toward operational use.

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An Israeli Defense Ministry official emphasized that the future theArrow 4 and Arrow 5 systems “will take on hypersonic and decoy warheads,” addressing the increasing sophistication of enemy payloads.

By Yaakov Lappin, JNS

The Israeli defense establishment and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have significantly accelerated the development of its next-generation missile defense systems, with the Arrow 4 now in advanced stages and the Arrow 5 currently in research and development.

These systems are designed to counter the evolving threat from Iran, including targeting hypersonic missiles and decoy warheads.

Brig. Gen. (ret.) Daniel Gold, head of Defense Research and Development at the Israeli Defense Ministry, provided a detailed update on the strategic projects in recent days. Gold confirmed that the Arrow 4 is undergoing “massive development” and is scheduled for its first test flight in the coming months

“Arrow 4 is designed to replace Arrow 2,” Gold stated, noting that the older system was originally based on missile threats with ranges of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers.

While specific altitudes of Arrow 4 remain classified, the new interceptor represents a leap in capability, intended to address the next generation of ballistic threats.

Simultaneously, the defense establishment is pushing forward with the Arrow 5. Gold revealed that this system is currently in the research and development phase, with full-scale development expected to commence soon.

“Arrow 5 will operate alongside Arrow 3 in space,” Gold said. The Arrow 3 is currently Israel’s primary exo-atmospheric interceptor, designed for intercepting ballistic missiles in space.

Gold emphasized that both the future Arrow 4 and Arrow 5 systems “will take on hypersonic and decoy warheads,” addressing the increasing sophistication of enemy payloads.

Gold recounted the significant experience Israel has gained in defending against Iranian threats over the past two years.

Oct. 1, 2024, saw 201 Iranian ballistic missiles fired. On April 14, 2025, over 300 threats were fired in total, including 120 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles, and some 170 drones. The big majority of the threats were intercepted.

During “Operation Rising Lion” in June 2025 over 530 tactical ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, each carrying hundreds of kilograms of warheads.

Despite the sheer volume of fire, during the June conflict, Israeli systems maintained an 86% interception rate against tactical ballistic missiles, Gold said.

“We estimate 50 billion dollars saved, and many human lives,” he added.

Gold also addressed the cooperation with American forces, noting that two THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) batteries assisted in the air defense missions during the June conflict.

Gold described the constant evolution of Israel’s multi-layered defense architecture, driven by real-time lessons from the battlefield.

He noted that the Iron Dome system, designed to shoot down rockets, cruise missiles, drones, and mortars, was changed 30 times during the past war to adapt to shifting threats.

Similarly, the Arrow system was “changed many times to improve” throughout the hostilities.

Gold reported a 99% interception rate against Iranian UAVs during the June war, with only two hitting targets in Israel.

This success was achieved through a combination of air defense systems, electronic warfare (EW), fighter jets, the Rafael-made “Sea Dome” naval system, and IAI-made Barak 8 interceptors on ships.

Additionally, the Iron Dome was adapted specifically for drone and rocket threats, he added.

Gold also revealed the extent of Israel’s offensive actions during “Rising Lion,” stating that Israel conducted over 500 UAV strikes, targeting many Iranian launch capabilities.

Gold shared that 1,000 people in his administration are currently working on 1,800 projects. The testing process for strategic systems like the Arrow requires significant logistical coordination.

Gold noted that during tests, all commercial air traffic is rerouted and Ben-Gurion International Airport is shut down temporarily

. He also recalled the successful testing of the Arrow 3 in Alaska in July 2019 as a precedent for the rigorous validation these systems undergo.

Dr. Uzi Rubin, a senior researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and the founder and former director of the Arrow missile defense project at the Defense Ministry, told JNS that regarding the ballistic threat, “from a qualitative perspective there is no change in the situation – we are still head to head, and they are not preceding us.”

However, Rubin identified the industrial capacity of the adversary as the primary concern.

“The problem is the quantitative aspect: Their production capacity is very high, and it is reasonable that there is a challenge in coping with it,” Rubin warned.

Rubin pointed to the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems as a global warning sign that Israel must heed.

“Regarding the UAV threat there is a significant challenge, from a quantitative perspective. We only need to look at what is happening in Ukraine,” Rubin said.

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