Sun Sep 15 13:39:04 UTC 2024: ## Houthi Missile Likely Not Hypersonic, Experts Say
**TEL AVIV, ISRAEL** – A missile launched from Yemen towards Israel on Sunday morning was likely not a hypersonic missile, as claimed by the Houthi rebels, experts have stated.
While the Houthis declared the missile to be hypersonic, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ran Kochav, former air defense chief and IDF chief spokesman, voiced skepticism during an interview with 103 FM. Dr. Benveniste (Benny) Natan, a professor at the Technion’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, further corroborated this view, suggesting the missile was likely an outdated surface-to-surface ballistic missile upgraded by Iran.
Natan explained that hypersonic missiles travel at five times the speed of sound, a technology that even Russia, a leading developer in the field, has yet to fully master. He pointed out that even Russia’s recent hypersonic missile tests resulted in explosions upon re-entry.
He added that neither Iran nor Yemen currently possess the knowledge or technology to produce a functional hypersonic missile.
The missile, estimated to have been fired from Yemen, flew for 11 and a half minutes before disintegrating upon re-entry into the atmosphere. The debris triggered the launch of several interceptors, including an Arrow and Iron Dome. The IDF clarified that the interceptors did not miss the missile, but rather it disintegrated at a high altitude, significantly diminishing the threat.
While the exact type of missile remains under investigation, experts believe it was likely an Iranian-supplied ballistic missile, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s regional influence.
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