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About that 'radar evading' Iranian missile....
..It was a bit less sophisticated than the MMs would have had us believe (EFL, RTWT)Pentagon Confirms Last Friday's Missile Test Was Not a New ICBM MIRV but a Shahab-2 (Scud-C) By Steve Schippert "...It follows a common thread along with the rest of Irans new hardware announcements: Stealthy technology. This is the true value of the conventional advances announced by Iran in the Great Prophet maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, not any claimed MIRV development that Iran cannot arm or even the speed of the 328-feet-per-second Hoot torpedo, by contrast a very real threat to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The source of the stealthy technology is without doubt our friends in China and Russia. Last week, it was noted that there was no word from NORAD nor the US Military in-theater of a ballistic missile launch detection in Iran. Today, we get that word. The Pentagon is saying now that Iran tested an older version of the Scud missile family last week and not any new ICBM development. What was launched in last weeks much publicized Iranian media event was, in fact, a Shahab-2 with a range of 310 miles. The Shahab-2 is the Iranian designation for the Scud-C variant of the Russian design. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman seems to echo sentiments expressed in this space since last week saying, It is possible they are increasing their capabilities and making strides in radar-absorbing material and targeting. However, the Iranians have been known to boast and exaggerate their statements about greater technical and tactical capabilities. A senior Russian Minister of Parliament criticized Irans very public displays in their current wargaming maneuvers, calling them inappropriate. Minister Konstantin Kosachyov, the chairman of the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee, also cast doubt on the wild (and vague) claims made by the Iranians regarding last weeks missile test announcement. So far we have nothing except the assertion by the Iranian military and by politicians that it is superior to other similar missiles, but I see no reason to believe these statements. The development of stealthy technology is not insignificant. However, Irans greatest development is and was their creation, development and support of Hezbollah, and the terrorism and terrorist groups Hezbollah aids, trains, funds and arms. Aside from military attacks on shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, the only effective attack arm Iran possesses against the United States is that of Hezbollah and other terrorist groups carrying out attacks in the region and throughout the world. While Iran states they will not use oil as a weapon, it can be assured that they will. They must. There is a reason that their latest maneuvers center around the Strait of Hormuz, and it is not because their missile testing ranges are conveniently located nearby..." Mike Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-04-05 |
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