Iran officially confirms having supplied anti-ship ballistic missiles to Houthis.

According to information published by Tasnim on May 29, 2024, Iran recounted the history of its anti-ship ballistic missile development and acknowledged the delivery of these missiles to the Yemeni Houthis.
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Iranian Qadr ballistic anti-ship missile. (Picture source: Fararu)

Iran envisioned repurposing the Tondar 69 into an anti-ship ballistic missile. Thus, the "Qadr" project was launched within the IRGC's Air Force Self-Sufficiency Unit. This project faced numerous challenges.

Conventional anti-ship missiles were typically cruise missiles with a direct trajectory, while ballistic missiles followed a curved path designed for stationary targets, making it difficult to hit moving targets. Concurrently, the Ministry of Defense initiated the development of the "Ya Ali" anti-ship cruise missile.

The Tondar missile was modified into an anti-ship missile by adding an optical seeker capable of locking onto targets and transmitting real-time images to the command center. Extensive testing was conducted, culminating in a final test at Lake Urmia.

Despite cloudy weather that cast doubt on the test's success, a break in the clouds allowed the missile to launch, lock onto its target, and destroy it. This success led to the use of Qadr missile technology in developing the "Persian Gulf" and "Hormuz" missiles, making Qadr the first Iranian anti-ship ballistic missile.

Years later, this technology has been adapted by Yemeni forces. The Yemeni armed forces' "Mohit" missile is a direct derivative of the Iranian Qadr anti-ship missile. Yemen had previously acquired a significant number of SAM-2 air defense missiles, which were repurposed into ground-to-ground Qaher 2 and Qaher 2M missiles, successfully used against Saudi forces and their allies.

During an Ansar Allah military parade, the anti-ship variant of the Qaher missile, equipped with an optical seeker similar to the Iranian Qadr, was unveiled as the "Mohit."

This development illustrates Iran's ongoing support for the Houthi movement in recent years, emphasizing not just comprehensive support but also technology transfer to empower allied groups.