A Kheibar Shekan missile on an erector/launcherMilitary Watch Magazine – Aug 2, 2026Iran’s Kheibar Shekan medium-range ballistic missile has emerged as one of the most significant challenges to the U.S.-led war effort against the country, with U.S. officials increasingly warning that the weapon’s improving performance and more sophisticated employment are complicating regional missile defence efforts. Such tactics force U.S. and allied missile defence systems to expend substantially larger numbers of expensive interceptors while reducing the probability of successful interceptions. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles that follow relatively predictable terminal trajectories, the missile is capable of making adjustments during the final stages of flight, reducing the effectiveness of existing missile defence systems. The growing sophistication of Iranian missile attacks comes as U.S. forces are already facing mounting concerns regarding interceptor stockpiles. Analysts note that each Kheibar Shekan costs only a small fraction of the price of the interceptors required to destroy it.