The Iranian two-stage solid propellant missile "Sejil"
-- the renamed "Ashura" (Ghadr-110) --

Norbert Brügge, Germany

First Upload: 2008 / Last Update: 17.01. 2021
 

2020-2021 -- New images of the Sejil missile shown in a video from 2020 and launches of three missiles mid January 2021 suggest that this missile has come into focus again. It can also be concluded that since the first demonstration in 2008 and 2009, a "mass" production is now possible.
  

Great Prophet" 2021, January

 



     


 

TEHRAN, 2009, Dec. 16 --- Iran has successfully tested an optimized version of the solid-fuel Sejil missile. This new version of the Sejil is faster during the powered flight portion of its trajectory and also during the re-entry phase. It is also harder to detect for anti-missile systems, as it is covered with anti-radar material. The new highly maneuverable missile is also more efficient as it requires less amount of time for prelaunch preparations. The engine and various fuels have been tested and the platform is now highly reliable.
TEHRAN, 2009, Dec. 16 --- Iran has successfully tested an optimized version of the solid-fuel Sejil missile. This new version of the Sejil is faster during the powered flight portion of its trajectory and also during the re-entry phase. It is also harder to detect for anti-missile systems, as it is covered with anti-radar material. The new highly maneuverable missile is also more efficient as it requires less amount of time for prelaunch preparations. The engine and various fuels have been tested and the platform is now highly reliable.
TEHRAN, 2009, May 20 --- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the country successfully launched an advanced surface-to-surface missile Sejil with a range of about 2,000 km, the official IRNA news agency reported. The Sejil missiles use solid fuel and perform in two stages.
TEHRAN, 2008, Nov. 18 --- Iran flew its new missile for the second time. Iran's defense Minister Mustafa Najjer was sufficiently satisfied to release impressive video footage showing what was clearly a previously unknown large multistage ballistic missile roaring off a mobile launcher. In a series of interviews after the test, Najjer stressed that the new "Ashura" missile is renamed "Sejil", and had a range of more then 2,000 kilometers and that it was a two-stage design, powered by composite solid-propellant rocket motors.
TEHRAN, 2008, Nov. 12 --- Iran test fired a new generation of ground-to-ground missile, the defence minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar as said. "This is a two-stage missile carrying two engines with combined solid fuel," Najjar said, adding that the missile was named "Sejil".
TEHRAN, 2007, Nov. 27 --- Iran has built a new longer-range ballistic missile named "Ashura" with a range of 2,000 kilometers , the defense minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said.

Against first conjectures this new large Iranian two-stage solid propellant missile "Sejil" not based on the South-African "Arniston" with a diameter of 1.35m, the Chinese M-18 (Pakistani Shaheen-2) with a diameter of 1.40 m or the Indian Agni-IV with a diameter of 1.30 m. That means that the origin is unknown up to now. It is reported that this missile was developed and produced under the leadership of the Air and Space Organization Department of the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
I can not believe that Iran has developed the Sejil missile without technology transfer. For other Iranian missiles, such a technology transfer was always detectable.
The old and little-known Soviet 5Ya27 missile (OKB Fakel 5Ya27 ABM ) is a candidate. Like the Sejil, it has an identical diameter of 1.30 m.

As far as known, only four of the Sejil missiles have been tested since 2008. After that we have seen only modells on exhibitions.This is an indication that a mass production is difficult because it was a one-time delivery of arsenal remnants from the Soviet-Union.

    


            

Rear with open boxes                                                                   Left: Sejil motor nozzle ?


                  


    

     


          
Launch three and four



 

 

 

 


               


      


    


Sample calculation

Stage

Thrust s.l.

Isp s.l.

Thrust vac

Isp vac

Propellant

Burn time

Combustion

Total Imp

kN

N*s/kg

kN

N*s/kg

tons

s

t/s

MN*s

1

 487.5 2354 538.2 2599 14.50 70 0.2071 37.7
2     241.1 2628 5.50 60 0.0917 14.5

 

Sejjil
Maximum range: 2000 km
Missile total weight: 23623 kilograms
Missile total length: 17.57 metres
Missile diameter: 1.25 metres (??)
Warhead weight: 500 kilograms
Warhead type: High Explosive
Fuel type: Solid
Maximum flight time: 835 seconds
Flight trajectory: Ballistic