The former air defense chief and IDF chief spokesman Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ran Kochav expressed doubts that the Houthi missile fired at Israel on Sunday morning was a hypersonic missile, as claimed by the Houthis, in an interview with 103 FM on Sunday.
According to Dr. Benveniste (Benny) Natan, a professor in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion, it is much more likely that the missile was an outdated surface-to-surface ballistic missile upgraded by Iran.
He estimated the missile was Iranian and noted that it is still unclear whether it was powered by solid or liquid fuel.
Natan explained that a hypersonic missile travels at five times the speed of sound. He pointed out that even Russia, which has been attempting to develop such a missile, experienced an early explosion in one of its recent tests.
Western militaries are also working on missiles capable of exceeding 343.2 meters per second, but current missiles tend to slow down after re-entering the atmosphere. Natan added that neither Iran nor Yemen currently possesses the knowledge or technology to produce an accurate hypersonic missile.
Disintegrated mid-flight
According to estimates, the missile fired from Yemen flew for 11 and a half minutes before disintegrating upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
The scattered debris triggered the launch of several interceptors, including an Arrow and Iron Dome. The IDF denied reports that the interceptors missed the missile, clarifying that it disintegrated at a high altitude, which reduced the threat.