Catsoo,
To be fair, it could easily be used as an AshM, just as the IRIAF used AGM-65As during the Iran-Iraq War (and with great effect). The only problem is, since it seems to use the same seeker technology as the AGM-65A (no magnification of the image), it's effective range is limited and would only be effective against vessels with little or no AD capability. Then again, its larger warhead would pack a MUCH greater punch than the AGM-65A.
Bluesky,
The "Fater" to my knowledge was never paraded publicly. It's only been shown in a few images. In one of those rare images (which look fairly old), it shows two Fatter missiles, one marked "Fater-1" and the other "Fater-2". Here's the thing, the two missiles are identical and thus their numbering is most likely meaningless. To date I have never seen any official statements on the missile or its capabilities or if any variants exists.
Now, here is my theory: the "Fater" program exist/existed but not in the way we may have thought initially. Let me explain..
Something that is not often talked about when discussing how old Iran's American combat aircraft are and how amazing it is that Iran has managed to maintain them so well after all these years, is the fact that all those AIM-7s, AIM-9s, and AIM-54s delivered before the Revolution (and those delivered during the war via Iran-Contra) are WELL past their shelf lives. Even if perfectly maintained and stored, AAMs simply don't have very long shelf lives, certainly not 34 years! With that understood, the immediate question you have to ask yourself is, how on Earth are Iran's American combat aircraft still seen carrying Sidewinders, Sparrows and Phoenixes? The answer is very simple: They have de facto reverse-engineered them all. Here's how:
Part of the problem of maintaining AAMs over long periods of time is the solid-fuel used by the motor becomes unstable with time and dangerous so Iranian engineers would have HAD to have reverse-engineered the motors to keep the missiles operational and safe. Next, the seeker technologies used by all these missiles also doesn't hold up well over that long a period of time, so Iranian engineers would have HAD to have reverse-engineered the guidance systems for these missiles as well (the AIM-54 logically taking the longest given its complexity).
So by simple deduction, Iranian engineers have likely had the ability to build at least two (AIM-7 & AIM-9), possibly all three missiles, for well over a decade for them to still be operational today. IMHO, the "Fater" was the name given to the effort to reverse-engineer the AIM-9P, an effort that was likely meant mainly to refurbish existing stocks of missiles and also, if needed, built brand new AIM-9Ps from scratch. Logically, there is a similar AIM-7 program out there as well that we simply have never heard of.
Now, IMHO, I think it is unlikely Iranian engineers would be content with ending the Fater program by simply reverse-engineering the old AIM-9P. Given Iran's problematic arms procurement situation, the inability to import large numbers of more modern replacement AAMs for these older American-built missiles, it's only logical to assume Iranian engineers have been working on improved versions of potentially all three missiles. We know now that they have indeed developed their own variant of the AIM-54 and thus I think its quite likely there are improved domestic variants of the AIM-9 and possibly the AIM-7 in the works now (or already in production for all we know).
Of course, that last part is pure speculation on my part, but the point is: IF Iran wanted to, they could have building "clones" of the AIM-9P, AIM-7E, and AIM-54A for some time now and regardless of whether they did choose such a path or simply refurbish their existing stocks, the important thing is we know they've HAD the ability..
Here is a fairly rare image of the "Fater" missile, IMHO taken sometime in the 90's (though I am not certain about that):
