Qassem Bassir

Qassem Bassir
TypeMedium-range ballistic missile
Place of originIran
Service history
Used byIran
Production history
Designer Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force
ManufacturerMinistry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)
Produced2025
Specifications
PropellantTwo-stage solid fuel
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation + electro-optical/infrared terminal seeker
Launch
platform
Road-mobile TEL

The Qassem Bassir (also transliterated Qasem or Ghasem Bassir) missile is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) unveiled in May 2025.[1]With a solid-fueled, two-stage system, it is presented as an improved variant of Iran’s Haj Qassem series, named after Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.[2][3] Iranian officials state the Qassem Bassir has a range of about 1,200 km, and features enhanced guidance and countermeasure resistance.[1] The missile was revealed by Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh on Iranian state television on 4 May 2025.[1]

Development

The Qassem Bassir emerged from Iran’s ongoing missile program development. It is explicitly an upgrade of the "Shahid Haj Qassem" medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) first unveiled in 2020 (with a longer advertised 1,400 km range).[4]

Design and technical characteristics

Estimates from Iranian sources suggest the Qassem Bassir re-enters the atmosphere at speeds up to ~Mach 11 and impacts at about Mach 5, classifying it as hypersonic at terminal phase.[5]


Guidance system

The Qassem Bassir’s guidance system combines inertial navigation with an advanced electro-optical sensor for the terminal phase. According to the Iranian Defense Ministry, it carries a thermal imaging (Infrared) camera that allows the missile to visually identify and home in on designated targets by their heat signatures,[5] this means it can attempt to "see" its target and maneuver toward it without relying on any satellite GPS signal.[6] Iranian reports claim that during testing the Qassem Bassir flew under intense jamming, yet its autonomous optical seeker and onboard inertial units maintained trajectory.[6] Observers note this is the first Iranian MRBM reported to use an image-based (infrared/optical) terminal seeker.[6] In practice, this guidance scheme should make the Qassem Bassir largely immune to radio-frequency jamming; as one analyst explained, by matching real-time images to stored terrain or target shapes, the missile avoids any external signals that an enemy could block.[6] Iran claims that the Qassem Bassir can achieve near "meter-level" accuracy against selected targets (e.g. airfield facilities).[5][6]

Missile defense evasion

During reentry, the missile's fins reportedly allow the warhead to perform course changes at supersonic speed[5]

Independent analysts caution that such figures likely include elements of propaganda.[7] Others, such as Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, are skeptical about Iran's claims about the new missile, stating that they need to be taken with a "pinch of salt,”, further stating about Iran that "they claim a lot" in order to retain a deterrent posture in anticipation of a rise in military tensions between Iran and the US.[7]

Parameter Reported figure/feature Reported advantage
Range ~1,200 km(Reportedly, a 3000 km range model based on North Korean design is under development)[8]
Speed
Impact speed Mach 5[5]
Length ≈ 11 m
Launch mass ≈ 7 t
Launch vehicle Mobile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs)
Warhead ~500 kg (unitary or modular)
Fuel Solid
Propulsion Two‑stage solid‑fuel motor
Guidance system Thermal Imaging Sensor, Electro-optical imaging and onboard inertial measurement units (IMU)as well as Electronic Protective Measures (EPM) Improved accuracy through identification of targets by heat signature during terminal flight phase,[9] not dependent on satellite navigation systems (GPS) though reportedly retains satellite signal correction capabilities.[8] The EPM protects the missile's guidance system from electronic interference and jamming.[9]

Test firing and unveiling

According to the Iranian Ministry of Defense, the Qasssem Bassir missile was successfully test-fired on 16–17 April 2025, striking a target over 1,200 km away.[10] On 4 May 2025, the missile’s formal unveiling took place, while US-Iran talks were on hold after a pause requested by Oman’s foreign minister.[11] In public statements, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and media outlets stressed that Bassir’s enhancements in guidance and maneuverability address the deficiencies of earlier missiles,[12][10][6] while stating that US bases in the region would be legitimate targets if military tensions in the area were to increase.[11][12][13][14]


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Iran Unveils Qasem Basir Ballistic Missile With Optical Guidance". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  2. ^ "Iran unveils missiles with increased range". France 24. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  3. ^ "Iran unveils new ballistic missile, vows to respond to Israeli aggression". www.intellinews.com. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  4. ^ RFE/RL. "Iran Tests Missile It Claims Can Reach Israel, Get Past US Defenses". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Iran unveils new ballistic missile, vows to respond to Israeli aggression". www.intellinews.com. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  6. ^ a b c d e f RFE/RL. "Iran Tests Missile It Claims Can Reach Israel, Get Past US Defenses". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  7. ^ a b Helou, Agnes (2025-05-05). "Iran unveils its latest ballistic missile as Netanyahu warns Houthis' 'patron'". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  8. ^ a b "Iran Unveils Qasem Basir Ballistic Missile With Optical Guidance". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  9. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  10. ^ a b "Iran Unveils Qasem Basir Ballistic Missile With Optical Guidance". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  11. ^ a b "Iran unveils new solid-fueled ballistic missile, state TV reports". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 2025-05-04. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  12. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  13. ^ "Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile Amid Rising Tensions". www.ilmessaggero.it. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  14. ^ "Iran unveils cutting-edge missile, says U.S. bases are targets if attacked". Tehran Times. 2025-05-04. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
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