Threat of the Week
The Qiam 1 (Persian: قیام-١, "Uprising-1") is a short-range ballistic missile designed and built by Iran. It was developed from the Iranian Shahab-2, a licensed copy of the North Korean Hwasong-6, all of which are versions of the Soviet Scud-C missile.
Iran began the development of the indigenous Qiam missile prior to 2010 when it was first publicly tested. The Qiam 1 has a range of 750 km (470 mi) and 500 m (1,600 ft) (CEP) accuracy.
The most noticeable difference from the Shahab-2 is a lack of fins—which could be used to reduce the missile's radar signature during ascent as fins reflect radar.
Removing fins from a missile also reduces the structural mass, so the payload weight or missile range can be increased.
Without the fins and associated drag, the missile can be more responsive to changes in trajectory.
Iranian sources cite an improved guidance system on the missile, and analysts note that adjusting the missile's in-flight trajectory without fins requires a highly responsive guidance system.
The Qiam 1's accuracy is also improved with the addition of a separable warhead. Other changes to the warhead include a "baby-bottle" shape, possibly to increase drag and thus stability during reentry at the expense of range,
potentially increasing accuracy. The shape can also increase the terminal velocity of the warhead, making it harder to intercept. Deliveries began in either 2010 or 2011. The missile's first combat use was against ISIS militants
on 18 June 2017. The Burkan 2-H used by the Houthis in Yemen is potentially related, or the Qiam 1 has potentially been used by that group.
The transfer of technology. Soviet SCUD Missiles:
-North Korea obtained its first Scud-Bs from Egypt in 1979 or 1980. These missiles were reverse-engineered and reproduced using North Korean infrastructure. The first prototypes were completed in 1984 and designated Hwasong-5.
- In 1985, Iran acquired 90 to 100 Hwasong-5 missiles from North Korea. A production line was also established in Iran, where the Hwasong-5 was produced as the "Shahab-1".
-An improved Hwasong-6 was first test-flown in June 1990 and entered full-scale production the same year, or in 1991, until it was superseded by the Rodong-1. The Hwasong-6 was exported to Iran where it is known as the Shahab-2.
-Iranian development of Qiam 1 off of Shahab-2 missile design.
-Houthi forces in Yemen unveiled the Burkan 2-H (also spelled as Borkan H2 and Burqan 2H) when it was launched in Saudi Arabia on 22 July 2017. Analysts identify it as based on the Iranian Qiam 1/Scud-C, Iranian Shahab-2/Scud-C, or Scud-D missile.
