6 - Iran’s Ballistic Missiles and Space Program

Summary

This chapter examines Iran’s ballistic missiles and space program. It provides a historical background to the program from the Shah’s initiatives to the present. Given that the Islamic Republic has been under a strict arms embargo for decades, the power of its air force in particular has deteriorated significantly. Iranian military leaders have invested military and human resources in building and developing strong missile and space capabilities to make up for this weakness. Initially, Tehran relied on foreign assistance, particularly from China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but it has developed significant indigenous capabilities since the 1980s. The chapter compares Iran’s extensive missile and space program with the leading militaries of the region, Saudi Arabia and Israel.