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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| StrategyPage: Iran Tests Europe Busting Missile |
| 2006-03-06 |
| Iran has apparently successfully test fired a new missile, the Shahab 4, which has a range of 4,000 kilometers. The missile was destroyed in flight, but apparently proved that it worked. With that range, the Shahab 4 can reach targets in Western Europe. The Shahab 4 is apparently based on the shorter (2,200 kilometers) range Shahab 3. Both seem to use technology from an old Soviet era missile, the SS-5. This is 1950s stuff, using a liquid fuel rocket which gave the missile a range of 4,000 kilometers. The SS-5 served as a truck-mobile, and silo based system until the mid-1980s. The Russians deny that they sold the technology to Iran, but any of the many Russian missile engineers and managers with access to the stuff could have made the sale. The information needed would fit into a briefcase, or on a CD. The Iranians have the engineers, and manufacturing capability, to produce the SS-5 components. Iran says they are developing the Shahab 4 as a satellite launcher. Iran has spent about a billion dollars on the project. The first test launch of the Shahab 4 was three years ago. It may be another year or two before the Shahab 4 is reliable enough for regular service (as an IRBM or satellite launcher.) A range map of missiles lunched from Iran is here: http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/missile/ |
| Posted by:ed |
| #14 The Map > Greenland is mostly toast - OTOH, the Clintons, for now, are safe in Naw Yawk regardless of whether the missle is from Iran or North Korea. I doubt the Russians or Chinese will ever allow it, unless of course they're put in control Iran's missles. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-03-06 22:06 |
| #13 "Jacques? George. Hey, there's a big one headed right for you. Or maybe not -- I can't tell what this blinky thing means, but Don sure seems worked up about it. Oh well, your call." |
| Posted by: Matt 2006-03-06 21:25 |
| #12 Hopefully, information of that nature won't be found in an open forum such as this. |
| Posted by: Choluque Hupating3789 2006-03-06 21:07 |
| #11 Interesting point, CH... So, um do the French have their own launch detection satellites - or do they rely upon the US (via NATO, perhaps)??? Lol. I smell opportunity... |
| Posted by: .com 2006-03-06 21:00 |
| #10 If the fuze is lit on a Shahab and it even LOOKS like it's headed toward France, our worries are over. I suspect Jock will send a multi-warhead whopper directly into Tehran and vic. Just my guess. |
| Posted by: Choluque Hupating3789 2006-03-06 20:57 |
| #9 But, but, but what about all the new orbiting debris this would create??!! This has got spacemire written all over it! ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2006-03-06 20:54 |
| #8 I wonder what the European elites think of that idiotic President Reagan's "Star Wars" proposal now. |
| Posted by: Matt 2006-03-06 20:50 |
| #7 Lots at the Missile Defense Agency website. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-06 20:46 |
| #6 i doubt the chances of Patriot intercepting Shahab 4. It isnt designed for 4000km range missiles. |
| Posted by: Ebbash Ulereper3503 2006-03-06 20:30 |
| #5 Don't worry though, It's just for launching satellites. And they only want plutonium for academic purposes. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-03-06 15:54 |
| #4 Orders for Patriot missle batteries have increased substantially to countries in Europe... I wonder what Syria will do whilst its sugar daddy is getting a beat down? I hope Musharaf takes some notes. |
| Posted by: Danking70 2006-03-06 15:01 |
| #3 The missile was destroyed in flight By whom? Allan? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 14:50 |
| #2 We need to turn the airspace above Iran into a battle laser track & terminate testing range. Non-civilian flights and all launches should be viable targets. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-03-06 14:48 |
| #1 Stick around folks, it's just half-time. After the game we've got a really, really big fireworks display right here on the field. You won't wanna miss it. |
| Posted by: Visitor 2006-03-06 14:03 |