Burkan-2H ballistic missile

Also known as

Burkan H2
Borkan-2H
Borkan H2
Burqan-2H
Burqan 2H
Volcano H-2
Volcano-2H

The Burkan-2H is the Houthi designation for a Qiam-1-derived short-range ballistic missile used for cross-border strikes from Yemen into Saudi Arabia during the 2014 Yemen Civil War. UN, CSIS, IISS, and rights-reporting sources connect the missile to attacks on Yanbu, King Khalid International Airport, Yamama Palace, and Riyadh-area targets, making it one of the clearest examples of Iranian missile technology appearing in the Houthi arsenal.

Burkan-2H ballistic missile, Short-range ballistic missile, Munitions

Image source: Wikimedia Commons Burkan 2.svg

Role in Conflicts

Side: Houthi-aligned forces

In the 2014 Yemen Civil War, Houthi-aligned forces used Burkan-2H/Borkan-2H extended-range ballistic missiles for long-range strikes into Saudi Arabia, including documented attacks toward Yanbu and Riyadh from July 2017 through June 2018.

Role details

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Iran
Built by: Iranian missile industry
Type: Short-range ballistic missile
Service note: 2017-present
Designed: 2017
Developed from: Qiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missile

Specifications

Range: About 1,000 km in Houthi service; the underlying Qiam-1 baseline is commonly described as 700-800 km
Warhead: About 250 kg separable warhead in the Burkan-2H configuration
Length: About 8 m
Guidance: Ground-based radio guidance augmentation on a finless, road-mobile missile
Propulsion: Single-stage liquid-fueled ballistic missile
Lineage: Qiam-1 / Shahab-2 / Scud-C-derived design lineage in open-source assessments

Qiam-1 Lineage

Open-source missile studies tie the Burkan-2H to Iran's Qiam-1 family rather than to a fully local Yemeni design. CSIS treats Burkan-2H and Borkan-2H as Houthi names for Qiam-derived weapons transferred into Yemen, and IISS describes Qiam as an 800 km-class Shahab-2 derivative with a separable warhead and guidance augmentation.

Design baseline

Finless Qiam-1 / Shahab-2 / Scud-C-derived liquid-fueled missile family.

Houthi designation

Burkan-2H, Borkan-2H, and Volcano-2H appear as names for the Yemen-based missile.

Range tradeoff

CSIS estimates the Burkan-2H reached about 1,000 km by reducing warhead mass to around 250 kg.

Variants

The Burkan-2H sits between earlier Houthi Burkan ballistic missiles and later extended-range Qiam-derived designs; open-source labels sometimes describe the same Iranian baseline as Qiam-1, modified Qiam, or Qiam-2 depending on configuration and source.

Variant	Configuration	Designation notes
Qiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missile	Iranian source family	CSIS and IISS describe the Burkan-2H as a Houthi-used Qiam-1-derived missile, while the Qiam record covers the broader Iranian family and modified Qiam configurations. Sources: CSIS Qiam-1, IISS Open-Source Analysis of Iran's Missile and UAV Capabilities and Proliferation
Burkan-1 ballistic missile	Earlier Houthi Burkan missile	CSIS's Yemen missile study describes the Burkan-2H as an upgraded Houthi Burkan missile that followed earlier Burkan-1 launches against Saudi targets. Sources: The Missile War in Yemen
Burkan-3 ballistic missile	Later extended-range Houthi missile	The later Burkan-3 continued the Qiam-derived Houthi ballistic-missile line with longer-range strike claims after the Burkan-2H campaign. Sources: The Missile War in Yemen

Variant

Configuration

Designation notes

Qiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missile

Iranian source family

CSIS and IISS describe the Burkan-2H as a Houthi-used Qiam-1-derived missile, while the Qiam record covers the broader Iranian family and modified Qiam configurations.

Sources: CSIS Qiam-1, IISS Open-Source Analysis of Iran's Missile and UAV Capabilities and Proliferation

Burkan-1 ballistic missile

Earlier Houthi Burkan missile

CSIS's Yemen missile study describes the Burkan-2H as an upgraded Houthi Burkan missile that followed earlier Burkan-1 launches against Saudi targets.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen

Burkan-3 ballistic missile

Later extended-range Houthi missile

The later Burkan-3 continued the Qiam-derived Houthi ballistic-missile line with longer-range strike claims after the Burkan-2H campaign.

Sources: The Missile War in Yemen

Timeline

Burkan-2H ballistic missile Key Events

Jul 22, 2017
First confirmed Burkan-2H attack
CSIS identified the July 22, 2017 attack on the Yanbu oil refinery as the first confirmed Burkan-2H use in the war.
Sources: CSIS Qiam-1, The Missile War in Yemen
Nov 4, 2017
Riyadh intercept
Saudi air defenses intercepted a Burkan-2H launched toward Riyadh, one of the missile's best-documented long-range strikes.
Sources: CSIS Saudi Arabia Intercepts Ballistic Missile Over Riyadh, The Missile War in Yemen
Dec 19, 2017
Attack toward Yamama Palace
CSIS's Yemen missile study records another Burkan-2H launch toward Riyadh's Yamama Palace in December 2017.
Sources: The Missile War in Yemen
Mar 25, 2018
Burkan-2H used in Riyadh-area barrage
Human Rights Watch reported that Houthi-aligned media identified a Burkan 2H among missiles launched toward Saudi Arabia, with King Khalid International Airport named as the Riyadh target.
Sources: Human Rights Watch Houthi Missile Attacks Unlawful
Apr 11, 2018
Riyadh Defense Ministry attack
CSIS recorded a Burkan-2H launch toward Riyadh, reportedly aimed at the Saudi Defense Ministry.
Sources: CSIS KSA Intercepts Houthi Missiles
May 9, 2018
Two Burkan-2H missiles fired at Riyadh
CSIS reported that Houthi forces fired two Burkan-2H missiles toward Riyadh, with one intercepted and one falling south of the city.
Sources: CSIS Houthi Missiles Target Jizan Najran Riyadh
Jun 24, 2018
Two missiles launched toward Riyadh
Houthi forces launched two Burkan-2H missiles toward Riyadh on June 24, 2018, and Saudi Patriots intercepted them.
Sources: The Missile War in Yemen, CSIS Houthi Burkan-2H Missiles Intercepted Over Riyadh