Expert Analysis: Iran Invests in New Missiles for a Prolonged War Against the U.S.

Reference News Network March 19 Report According to the Russian newspaper "Izvestia" website on March 18, as the White House claims to have destroyed 90% of Iran's missile capabilities, Tehran has unveiled a new trump card—the previously unused "Mudstone"-2 and "Haj Qasim" missiles. The "Mudstone"-2, equipped with cluster munitions, poses a challenge to Western air defense systems and indicates that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be prepared for a long-term confrontation. Experts estimate that the stockpile of these missiles could number in the hundreds, and their mobility reduces the effectiveness of a U.S. preemptive strike.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 17th that the conflict in the Middle East may end soon, but not next week.

Military expert Dmitry Kornev stated that Trump's assessment is based on military reports, so the specific timing will depend on the Pentagon.

Previously, Trump also mentioned that Iran "has very few missiles left." He said that the U.S. is continuously striking factories that produce missiles and drones. Despite the U.S. military's frequent successes, Iran has not exhausted its missile supply, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun to implement strikes with new types of missiles. Specifically, the "Mudstone"-2 ballistic missile.

In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also reported the first use of the medium-range ballistic missile "Haj Qasim." This missile is named after Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the "Quds Force" who was killed by U.S. forces in 2020.

Kornev said, "Information about the 'Haj Qasim' is very limited. It is a relatively modern solid-fuel missile with a range of about 1400 kilometers. Various signs indicate that it is equipped with a maneuverable warhead, making it difficult to intercept. The use of solid fuel indicates that the missile design is novel, as Iran only first tested a medium-range solid-fuel missile, the 'Mudstone'-1, in 2008. The fact that Iran is bringing this weapon out of its stockpile indicates that its missile strike capability has been enhanced."

Previously, a video of the "Mudstone"-2 also appeared online. The footage recorded the process of the missile launch, ascent, and transition to horizontal flight.

Kornev introduced, "From the video, this is a large two-stage ballistic missile equipped with a separable warhead. Both stages of the missile are controllable, meaning that the second stage is also equipped with a control engine."

The "Mudstone"-2 missile can be equipped with an integrated fragmentation warhead or a cluster warhead. The latter contains submunitions of various sizes and purposes, which may include decoy munitions.

The expert explained, "Cluster warheads are extremely difficult to intercept because they actually contain a large number of submunitions. To ensure interception, all submunitions must be shot down, which requires a significant amount of interceptors. This type of warhead is particularly effective against dispersed targets, but if used in urban areas, it could cause significant casualties."

Military expert Yuri Lyamin pointed out, "The 'Mudstone'-2 equipped with a cluster warhead can be used to strike airports, air force bases, as well as vulnerable industrial facilities such as refineries and chemical plants. Even if the fragments are not large, they are sufficient to incapacitate aircraft or helicopters."

The "Mudstone"-2 missile was developed in the 2000s and is a follow-up model to the "Mudstone"-1, with a range of up to 2500 kilometers, and specific warhead weight parameters have not been disclosed. External estimates suggest it could be up to 1000 kilograms, or even 1500 kilograms.

Lyamin estimates that over the past 15 years, Iran may have stockpiled hundreds of "Mudstone"-2 missiles. He believes that the use of these new missiles may indicate that Iran is increasing its stakes in this conflict.

Lyamin believes that Tehran's starting point is to engage in a protracted war. He explained, "In this case, it is crucial to use various types of missiles in a balanced manner to avoid an imbalance where one type of weapon is exhausted while others remain idle."

In addition, this expert believes that Israel may not have any countermeasures against the new missiles—after all, since the beginning of the conflict, the country has utilized its entire missile defense system to intercept as many targets as possible. (Translation/He Yingjun)