Richardson on Cruise Missile Proliferation
August 4, 2006 :: Canberra Times :: Analysis
“How did the [Chinese] C-802 [CSS-N-8] anti-ship cruise missile—rated by experts as among the most lethal in the world—get into Hezbollah’s hands?” asks Michael Richardson, a research fellow at the Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore in today’s edition of The Canberra Times. He goes on to discuss the “extensive but little-known trade in increasingly sophisticated missiles that have the capacity to upset stability and the balance of power in conflict-prone areas of the world.” The supply trail runs from China to Iran and then into Lebanon either by sea or over land via Syria. Iran and Syria are Hezbollah’s allies against Israel and the U.S. China has used Israel as a military supplier in the past, but has political and energy interests in Iran and Syria that are now in conflict with those of Israel. The tale of the C-802, Richardson writes, “is a classic story about the dog-eat-dog nature of the global arms trade and the destabilising impact of weapons that are not effectively controlled by national regulation or international treaties and agreements.” At present, there is no ban on the proliferation of anti-ship cruise missiles such as the C-802. Richardson lays out a plausible and frightening scenario based on the disclosure early last year by officials of Ukraine’s recently installed democratic government of the illegal export of 20 Russian-made Kh-55SM cruise missiles, each with a range of 3,000 km:
The Kh-55 family of missiles is Russia’s main nuclear-armed cruise missile launched from the air by strategic bombers. The missiles, exported in 2000 and 2001, were diverted from Soviet stocks left behind after Ukraine declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The illicit sale took place despite the fact that Ukraine was an regime member. Twelve of the Kh-55SMs reportedly went to Iran, six to China and two to Pakistan. Iran is alleged to have paid nearly $US50million ($A65.5million) for its missiles.
None of the Kh-55SMs from Ukraine had their 200 kiloton nuclear warheads. But the deal included the system for testing, programming and launching the missiles which had been in service for a number of years. China and Pakistan, both declared nuclear powers, evidently wanted to strip the missiles to copy and incorporate its design, propulsion and guidance components into their own efforts to develop long-range cruise missiles—a process known as reverse engineering.
Iran, too, may have similar interests in using some of the Kh-55SMs as a shortcut for developing a derivative long-range cruise missile—one capable of striking Israel from some 1500 km away. But having a dozen of the missiles could also enable Iran to fit the weapon to its Soviet built Su-24 strike aircraft or fire it from ships or land-based truck launchers.
Robertson concludes: “The ultimate nightmare for Israel and the U.S. would be a Kh-55SM-type missile, armed with an Iranian nuclear warhead.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, Cruise Missiles, Iran, Proliferation
Jane’s Profiles Taiwan’s Hsiung Feng-3 Anti-ship Missile
August 3, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The September 1 issue of Jane’s Navy International includes a profile of Taiwan’s Hsiung Feng-3 (HF-3) anti-ship cruise missile. Designed and produced by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the HF-3 is believed to be a supersonic variant of the Hsiung Feng-2, with an increased range that some sources claim exceeds 600 km. If true, the HF-3 would be able to strike a number of Chinese naval facilities including Shantou, Xiamen, Sandu, and Xiazhen. Jane’s classifies the HF-3 as an anti-ship missile that will be deployed on Taiwan’s Cheng Kung and Kang Ding-class frigates. The lead Cheng Kung-class frigate, the Cheng Kung, was seen at the Suao Naval Base in northern Taiwan, fitted with four HF-3 missile launch tubes. Yet local media reports suggest that the HF-3 might also serve as the basis for a surface-to-surface cruise missile capable of striking targets within China. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has denied these reports, claiming that the HF-3 program is strictly limited to the development of a supersonic anti-ship missile. Jane’s reports that Taiwan has allocated funds for the production of 120 HF-3 missiles this year, according to the Ministry of National Defense. (Link)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, Taiwan
Russia, India to Produce 1,000 BrahMos Cruise Missiles
July 22, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
Russia and India plan to manufacture 1,000 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles over the next 10 years through their joint venture company, reports the Indian news agency PTI. Of these 1,000 missiles, nearly 50 percent will be exported to client states. Russia and India have already invested $300 million in BrahMos Aerospace, which drew upon technological skills and capabilities from both countries to design, develop, and manufacture the missile. The 2,500-kg BrahMos has a strike range of 290 km and a maximum speed of Mach 2.8 (approximately one kilometer per second). (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, India, Proliferation, Russia
Pakistan Tests Hatf-7 Cruise Missile for Second Time
March 22, 2006 :: BBC :: News
Pakistan on Tuesday test-launched its nuclear-capable Haft-7 Babur cruise missile for the second time. According to a statement from the Pakistani army, “All phases of the planned trajectory were extremely successful and the missile impacted with pinpoint accuracy.” Reports indicate that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf witnessed the launch and congratulated the scientists involved. India was not given advanced warning of the test.
The terrain-hugging Haft-7 missile has a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) and is capable of carrying nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional warheads. The indigenously developed missile, named after an ancient Mughal emperor, was first tested in August 2005. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
Jane’s: Taiwan Has Prototypes of New Cruise Missile
January 9, 2006 :: News
Taiwan has produced three prototypes of a new cruise missile which could be used to strike the east coast of China, reports Jane’s Defence Weekly. The missile, known as the Hsiung Feng 2E (Brave Wind), has a range of more than 600 km (360 miles), meaning that if deployed on Penghu Island in the south or Tungyin Island in the north, it could strike as far south as Hong Kong and as far north as Shanghai. Initial plans are said to be for the production of up to 50 missiles before 2010, and up to 500 missiles beginning after 2010.
Jane’s adds that Taiwan’s military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, the developer of the missile, plans to extend the HF-2E’s range to 1,000 km, although this would require the acquisition of specialized engine components from the U.S. So far, Washington has refused to provide these components, perhaps due to provisions under the Missile Technology Control Regime.
Efforts by Taiwan to begin limited cruise and ballistic missile programs are a response to the bloated missile buildup by their larger Communist neighbor, with now over 700 ballistic missiles and a some hundreds of cruise missiles stationed deployed within range of the small island nation. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Cruise Missiles, Taiwan
Pakistan Tests “Babur” Cruise Missile
August 11, 2005 :: News
Pakistan tested its first nuclear-capable, ground-launched cruise missile today, and did so without informing India in advance. The cruise missile is called the Hatf VII “Babur,” and is said to have a range of 500 km (310 miles), according to spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan.
The prior notification agreement reached last week applied only to ballistic missiles: “We don’t have to inform neighboring countries in this case. It is not a ballistic missile and it doesn’t fall under the agreement,” said Sultan. (“Hatf” is, however, used to designate a number of Pakistani ballistic missiles.)
The Babur was described by the military as terrain-hugging, capable of avoiding radar detection, “pinpoint accuracy,” and is said capable of being launched from ships, submarines, and aircraft. “By conducting the successful test, Pakistan has joined a select group of countries which have the capability to design and develop cruise missiles,” the military said in a statement. President Musharraf called the launch a “major milestone.” “It is a gift of the scientists on the birthday of President Musharraf and the Independence Day,” state media quoted Information Minister Sheikh Rashid as saying about the test. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
Russia Test Fires Cruise Missiles
August 4, 2005 :: Itar-Tass :: News
As part of planned tests, two Tu-160 “White Swan” strategic bombers “fired one cruise missile which successfully destroyed its target on the northern range at Pemboy (Vorkuta), reports Itar-Tas, citing Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy, head of the Russian Air Force press service. The aircraft took off together from Engels airfield in the Saratov region and flew for eight hours, covering over 8,000 km. The type of cruise missile fired was not given. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, Russia
Russian-Indian BrahMos Cruise Missile Goes into Production
July 6, 2005 :: Interfax :: News
The joint Russian-Indian cruise missile BrahMos has entered production, reports Interfax-AVN. The collaborative project, which began in 1998, includes Russia’s Mashinostroyeniye Company and the Indian Defense Ministry’s Defense Research and Development Organization. Interfax-AVN quotes Aleksandr Maksichev, acting general director of Mashinostroyeniye, as stating, “Tests of the BrahMos missile have been successfully completed, and the first customer is the Indian navy. Serial manufacture has begun in Russia and India.” The initial batch of BrahMos missiles will number approximately 70. Maksichev emphasized that the BrahMos is an all-purpose missile: “The basic model is anti-ship but it could also be adapted for use against land targets. It could also be adapted for airborne platforms.” (Article, Link)
» BrahMos official website
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, India, Russia
Taiwan Fires Cruise Missile
June 7, 2005 :: AFP :: News
Taiwan has successfully test fired a cruise missile, reportedly its first, according to The China Times. The article suggests the test took place in March, during which Taiwan launched its new Hsuing Feng cruise missile from the Chiupeng military base in the southern Pingtung county. The missile is said to have a range of 1,000 km (620 miles) and could be used to attack targets in southeast China. The Hsuing Feng tested is said to have flown over 500 km (310 miles) before hitting its target. The missile could enter pilot production in late 2005 or early 2006.
The significance of such a test is that Taiwan is begun to produce a counter-deterrent to China’s large and growing threat of literally hundreds of both ballistic and cruise missiles stationed near and aimed toward Taiwan. The deterrent, however, is comparatively quite modest. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Cruise Missiles, Taiwan, Testing - Foreign
India Launches Brahmos
November 3, 2004 :: News
India test-fired a supersonic cruise missile Wednesday, launching it from an Indian destroyer near the eastern coast of Orissa. The Brahmos cruise missile, which has been developed jointly by India and Russia, is said to have a range of 290 kilometers with a conventional warhead—weighing, according to various reports, 200 or 300kg—and was designed to be launched from ships, submarines or planes. Today’s test reportedly took place from a destroyer, the INS Rajput, from the Bay of Bengal. (More »»»)
» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, India, Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Cruise missile details: BrahMos PJ-10, BrahMos SSC-5
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