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.

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