Missile Raad-500

The Raad-500 was developed as a lighter, longer-range successor to the established Fateh-110 ballistic missile. The core design philosophy focused on a significant reduction in mass to achieve greater operational reach. This new system was formally introduced to the public during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran in February 2020.

The missile features a solid rocket motor, named "Zohair," encased in carbon fiber composites. This construction allows the motor casing to withstand extreme pressures while being significantly lighter than the metal body of its predecessor. The resulting weight reduction contributes to a considerable increase in its operational range despite the missile being physically shorter than the Fateh-110. One of its most critical features is a separating warhead, designed to detach from the main booster section during the early midcourse phase of its flight. This makes the smaller warhead much more difficult for missile defense systems to detect, track, and intercept when compared to unibody missiles or those whose warheads separate later in their trajectory.