Kowsar

Kowsar
Kowsar
	Kowsar (C-701 copy)
Type	Anti-ship missile
Service history
In service	2006
Production history
Manufacturer	Iran
Specifications
Mass	100 kg
Length	2.507 m
Diameter	0.18 m
Wingspan	0.587 m (unfolded); 0.450 m (folded)
Warhead	29 kg time-delayed semi-armour-piercing high-explosive
Engine	Solid rocket engine
Operational; range	15-20 km
Flight altitude	15-20 m (flight)
Maximum speed	Mach 0.8
Guidance; system	TV-homing, Infra-red, millimetre radar
Launch; platform	Ground-based vehicles and Zolfaghar class fast attack craft

Kowsar (Persian: کوثر) is a short-range, land-based anti-ship missile made by Iran. It can defeat electronic jamming systems and "cannot be thrown off course", according to Iranian officials.^[1]

The Kowsar designation apparently (Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance 2006) is used to refer to two different missiles: Iranian-produced versions of the PRC C-701 and the TL-10A.

Combat history

Some news reports indicate that this was the missile used on July 14, 2006 in the 2006 Lebanon War when Hezbollah fired two at Israeli warships.^[2]^[3] One of the missiles hit the corvette INS Hanit, causing heavy damage and the deaths of four Israeli servicemen.^[4] The other missile hit an Egyptian merchant ship causing heavy damage; it is reported that all the crew survived.^[5]

References

^ IRGC test-fires super-modern flying boat Archived 2012-09-06 at archive.today
^ "Hizballah Brings out Iranian Silkworm to Hit Israel Navy Corvette (Iranian-made C-802)". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Israel turning to Turkey to block Hizbollah arms, Reuters, Aug 17, 2006". Retrieved 13 November 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ "IDF finds bodies of missing sailors aboard damaged Navy ship". Haaretz.com. 16 July 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ Egypt confirms ship hit off Lebanon, crew safe^{[dead link]}

Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance - "Iran acquires additional Chinese missile technology." Aviation Week & Space Technology. April 10, 2006.
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