Hoveyzeh (cruise missile)

Hoveyzeh cruise missile
Hoveyzeh cruise missile
Type	Cruise missile
Place of origin	Iran
Service history
In service	2019–present
Used by	Iran
Specifications
Propellant	Turbo-jet engine
Operational; range	1,350 km (839 miles)
Flight altitude	Sea-skimming
Guidance; system	Inertial navigation system
Accuracy	1 m
Launch; platform	Multiple Launch Rocket System

The Hoveyzeh (Persian: موشک کروز هویزه) is an Iranian designed and built, all-weather, surface-to-surface cruise missile.^[1]^[2] The Hoveyzeh is from the Soumar family of cruise missiles.^[3] The missile was unveiled at a defense exhibition in Tehran on 2 February 2019 during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.^[1] The Aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will acquire and be supplied with these missiles.^[2]

The surface-to-surface cruise missile is capable of low altitude flight and has a range of 1,350 km, with the ability to strike ground targets with high precision and accuracy.^[3]^[4]

Name

The Hoveyzeh surface-to-surface cruise missile is named in honor of the Iranian town of Hoveyzeh in the Khuzestan Province. The city sustained heavy casualties and ubiquitous damage during the war and was a victim of chemical weapons used by Iraqi forces during the Iran–Iraq War.^[2]^[3]

Development

The Hoveyzeh is a part of the Soumar cruise missile family, which was unveiled in 2015 with the first missile of the family being the Soumar which had a range of 700 km.^[3] Although this claim is disputed by some media outlets claiming that due to the missile's similarities with the Kh-55, acquired from Ukraine in 2001, that the Soumar missile has a range of 2,000–3,000 km.^[5] It is believed that the Hoveizeh is either an upgrade to or has been developed from the Soumar.

It was unveiled and displayed to the public on 2 February 2019 at a Tehran defense exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.^[1] The missile was put into service and will be supplied to the Aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.^[2]

During Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami's interview with the press about the missile, he stated that the missile has been designed and manufactured by Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) with the missile being tested on the day of the unveiling, complemented with video evidence, successfully travelling 1,200 km and striking test targets with precision accuracy.^[1]^[2]^[4]

Capabilities

Israeli military intelligence website DEBKAfile states that: "Iran has succeeded in producing low-flying cruise missiles that fly to target under the radar."