(VIDEO) Historic: Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles Hit Target for the First Time
(VIDEO) The incident, which occurred on December 15, involved an armed Houthi group reportedly launching two ASBMs identified as "Khalije Fars" towards the merchant ship MV Palatium 3 in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait near Yemen, within the Red Sea.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a historic first, Anti-Ship Ballistic Guided missiles (ASBMs) are likely to have been successfully employed to target a sailing vessel in open waters.
The incident, which occurred on December 15, involved an armed Houthi group reportedly launching two ASBMs identified as “Khalije Fars” towards the merchant ship MV Palatium 3 in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait near Yemen, within the Red Sea.
According to the U.S military, one of the launched ASBMs successfully struck the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel while the other missile went off course.
The targeted MV Palatium caught fire and suffered significant damage as a result of the missile impact.
Following the incident, the distressed merchant ship issued an emergency call, promptly answered by the nearby U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87).
However, what has astonished regional military observers is the potential first-time use of anti-ship ballistic guided missiles against a sailing vessel.
The Houthi armed group, supported by Iran, is reported to have been supplied with ASBMs from Tehran, possibly as part of an effort to counter U.S. and allied warships.
They have issued warnings about targeting any merchant ships in the Red Sea heading towards the Israeli port of Eilat.
The ASBM used by the Houthi group against the MV Palatium 3 is identified as “Khalije Fars,” a single-stage solid propellant guided missile with a range of up to 300 km.
Iranian media sources claim that the missile carries a 650kg explosive payload and is impervious to enemy jamming attempts.
The “Khalije Fars” ASBM, publicly unveiled in 2011, is designed based on the guided missile “Fateh-110.”
Additionally, the anti-ship ballistic missile, launched from a mobile launcher, reportedly possesses an advanced target tracking system capable of locating and homing in on its target.
Equipped with inertial navigation systems, the Houthi’s “Khalije Fars” ASBM can achieve speeds of up to Mach 4.
Unlike ballistic missiles launched from land-based launchers, trucks, or silos, which typically target large areas such as cities or military bases, launching ballistic guided missiles against ships is considered challenging due to the smaller size of the target.
Furthermore, the “Khalije Fars” ASBM lacks the capability to adjust its course mid-flight.
The Houthi armed group’s action in successfully targeting the MV Palatium 3 with an anti-ship ballistic guided missile is deemed a notable achievement, demonstrating their ability to accurately target what is considered a “small target” in maritime settings. — DSA
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