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]
| 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 |
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
editSome 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]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- Picture
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