Qiam

June 5th, 2018

Facts

Designation Qiam-1
Missile Variants Upgraded Shahab-2
Mobility Road-Mobile
Designer/Producer Iran
Range 800KM
Warhead Type and Weight Unknown, 750 kg
MIRV and Yield MRV Capable
Guidance System/ Accuracy Unknown/ 500 CEP
Stages/ Propellant Single/ Liquid Propellant
IOC Unknown
Status/ Number of Units Operational/ Unknown

Development

The Qiam is a short range ballistic missile produced by Iran. Declared operational in 2010, the Qiam has a reported range of approximately 800km (497 miles), is liquid fueled, and carries a payload of 746kg. [1]   The missile is purportedly based of the design of the Shahab-2, but does not include stabilizer fins as to reduce the Qiam’s radar signature and allow for higher velocities during reentry. As a road mobile system, the missile can be fired from any location. According to Iranian officials, the Qiam is equipped with multi-reentry vehicle warheads (MRV). [2] The missile’s MRV capability enables it to evade missiles fired from missile defense shields.

Strategic Implications

According to Iranian officials, the Qiam was specifically built to target US bases in the Middle East, which have “encircled Iran.” [3] With military bases in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, US military installations serve to surveillance Iran. The Qiam, with a range of 800km (497 miles), can hold these countries and U.S. military installations near its borders at risk. Furthermore, the Qiam’s road mobility makes it easy to conceal and therefore more resilient to a preemptive  strike. Iran has been steadily supplying the Houthi rebels of Yemen with Qiam missiles in their fight against Saudi Arabia, their range proving capable of targeting Saudi oil fields and other important locations. The Qiam missile is also able to be equipped with a nuclear warhead, hence the fear surrounding the spread of such a weapon by a state to rebels in a region often found to be unstable. [4]


[1] “Iran announces missile breakthrough.” Al Jazeera, March 5, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2014.

[2] “Iran Equips Qadr H, Qiam Ballistic Missiles with MRV Payloads.” Fars News Agency (Tehran), March 5, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2014.

[3] Ben, Piven “Map: US bases encircle Iran.” Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar), May 1, 2012. Accessed April 8, 2014. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2012/04/2012417131242767298.html.

[4] Talley, Ian. “U.S. Widens Iran Sanctions for Supplying Missiles to Yemen’s Houthis.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 22 May 2018, www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sanctions-iran-for-supplying-missiles-to-yemens-houthis-1527006421.

Missile Threat and Proliferation