00:22A mysterious missile is now at the center of one of the most dramatic strikes in modern
00:29Middle Eastern history.
00:30Reports say an advanced weapon known as the Blue Sparrow Missile was used in the operation
00:36that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
00:39The weapon was reportedly launched during a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military strike deep
00:46inside Iran.
00:49But what exactly is the Blue Sparrow, and why is it so dangerous?
00:53The Blue Sparrow is an air-launched ballistic missile developed by Israel's defense company
00:59Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
01:02It belongs to the Sparrow missile family, which includes the Black Sparrow and Silver Sparrow
01:08variants.
01:09Originally, these missiles were not designed as weapons.
01:12Instead, they were built as target missiles used to test Israel's missile defense systems,
01:18especially the Aero Interceptor.
01:22Technically, the Blue Sparrow is about 6.5 meters long and weighs nearly 2 tons.
01:29It uses a solid fuel booster and follows a ballistic trajectory.
01:33After launch, the missile climbs extremely high, sometimes approaching the edge of space.
01:39It then descends toward its target at tremendous speed, making interception extremely difficult.
01:45Analysts say the missile's modular design allows it to carry explosive payloads if used as
01:52a strike weapon.
01:55The Blue Sparrow is typically launched from Israeli Air Force fighter jets, especially F-15 aircraft.
02:01This air-launch capability allows pilots to fire the missile hundreds or even thousands
02:07of kilometers from the target.
02:09With an estimated range of up to 2,000 kilometers, it can strike deep inside enemy territory without
02:16aircraft entering hostile airspace.
02:19That flexibility makes it ideal for precision, long-range missions.
02:23According to reports, Israeli fighter jets used the Blue Sparrow in a coordinated strike
02:29targeting Iranian leadership compounds.
02:32The missile's high-altitude ballistic path allowed it to approach at extremely high speed.
02:38That speed may have reduced the time available for Iranian air defenses to intercept it.
02:43The strike reportedly hit a compound where Khamenei and senior officials were gathered.
02:50The Blue Sparrow represents a new generation of weapons.
02:54Combining the reach of ballistic missiles with the flexibility of aircraft launch, it allows
02:59deep-strike missions against heavily-defended targets.
03:03If its use in the strike is confirmed, it would mark one of the most consequential targeted
03:09killings in the region's history, and it would show how advanced missile technology is reshaping
03:15modern warfare.
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