Iran Conducts Missile Tests
July 9, 2008 :: New York Times :: News
Iran reportedly tested seven missiles today from a location in the Iranian desert reportedly near the Strait of Hormuz. Of the several missiles fired, reports indicate that one was the medium range Shahab-3, capable of reaching targets at a range of up to 2000 km. The other missiles fired include shorter range ballistic missiles such as the Zelzal and the Fateh 110. It is yet unclear whether the tests were successful. Iran is believed to have numerous Zelzal and Fateh missiles, and supplies them to other countries and rogue groups.
In addition to the missiles tested today, Iran is also believed to be developing longer range missiles, titled Shahab-4 and Shahab- 5, with increased range, payload, and accuracy. The rhetoric of missile bombardment most often comes from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Tehran's most elite soldiers with nearly complete control over the Iranian missile forces. The IRGC is commanded by Hossein Salami who released a statement today saying, "Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy. The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance." The IRGC often conducts war games in Iran's western provinces. The majority of war games which include missile tests occur around the mountainous region of Khorramabad.
Iran's tests occur on a regular basis. Yet the timing today seems deliberate, given the U.S. agreement with the Czech Republic yesterday for the stationing of missile defense radars. Gordon D. Johndroe, assistant White House press secretary, quickly responded to the tests today saying, "The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people from the international community when it engages in this sort of activity."
Update: Subsequent reports dispute the number of missiles fired and the classification of those tested this week. This does not, however, alter the fact that the Shahab-3 has been successfully tested on many previous occasions.
(Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Fateh A-110, Zelzal-1/2/3, Shahab-3
North Korea Fires Three Anti-Ship Missiles
May 30, 2008 :: News
North Korea again fired a salvo of short range missiles off its coast, with three rockets launched, according to the Yonhap news agency in South Korea. Little information was given about the type of the missile, but Itar Tass described them as ship-launched anti-ship missiles with a range of 45 km. Yonhap claimed that they were of a type made in the former Soviet Union. The South Korean Defense Ministry was also cited as saying that two of the three missiles missed their intended targets. North Korea last launched several missiles from its western coast in March. (Article, Link)
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North Korea Launches Short Range Rockets
March 28, 2008 :: CNN :: News
Numerous news agencies report today that North Korea has launched various short-range missiles off its western coast. The test comes a day after North Korean officials dissolved a group of experts gathered at a join industrial zone near the shared border. South Korean officials have excused the test as "merely part of [North Korea's] ordinary military training" rather than an overt attempt by Kim Jong-Il to publicize the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula. (Article, Link)
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Pakistan Tests Hatf-3
February 13, 2008 :: BBC :: News
Pakistan today tested a ballistic missile, this time the short range Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi) with a range of 290 kilometers. The location of the test was not disclosed, but it was said to have concluded the Pakistani Strategic Force Command's winter training. The test marks the third ballistic missile test over the past three weeks. The launch was attended by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro and Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani, with additional details said to be released at a later time. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Hatf 3
Space Launch Vehicle Test May Demonstrate Iranian Missile Advance
February 5, 2008 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
On February 4, Iran launched a Kavoshgar-1 (Explorer-1) rocket into sub-orbital space from the desert region in the Semman Province, southeast of Tehran. Iranian defense officials gave few details about the rocket, but described it as a research rocket carrying scientific instruments and perform experiments during the sub-orbital flight. Based on its appearance in photos released by Iran some have speculated it could be an enhanced version of the Shahab-3 missile. Iran claims the rocket will be ready to launch its first domestically engineered satellite, Omid (Hope), into space in 2009, which is said to be designed to monitor the earthquake prone country during natural disasters, and improve communication within Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Iranian state-run television: "We need to have an active presence in space. We witness today that Iran has taken its first step in space very firmly, precisely and with awareness." The launch was said to inaugurate the completion of Iran's new "space terminal" near the city of Semnan, from whence Shahab missiles are also tested.
Both American and Russian officials indicated that the test might signal an advance in Iranian missile technology. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe commented, "It's unfortunate Iran continues to test ballistic missiles. This regime continues to take steps that only further isolate it and the Iranian people from the international community." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov commented that, "Any progress in the development of this [long-range ballistic missile] weaponry, certainly worries us and others," adding that the test's demonstration of advanced missile technology which "raise[s] suspicion towards Iran about its possible desire to create a nuclear weapon."
Russian Colonel General Viktor Yesin, former chief of General Staff of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops, was also quoted as saying that "This achievement has shown that Iranian specialists have become familiar with production of liquid-propellant rocket engines, which will also allow them in the long term to create ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500-4,000 kilometers or even more. ...I will not be surprised if Iran will have such missiles in the next few years." (Article, Link)
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Pakistan Tests Hatf-5
February 4, 2008 :: News
Pakistan launched a Hatf-5 ballistic missile on February 1, only a week after it tested a medium-range Hatf-4. The Hatf-5 is an intermediate range ballistic missile can with a range up to 1,300 km. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf praised the team behind the launch, and also reiterated his country's control of its nuclear assets, saying, "We have taken note of various imaginary scenarios being propounded by those who do not wish Pakistan well. Such elements have never reconciled to a nuclear Pakistan." (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Hatf 5, Hatf 5A
Russia Fires Cruise Missiles in Major Atlantic Exercise Near French and Spanish Coastlines
January 22, 2008 :: News
A Russian Tu-160 bomber test fired a P-500 (SS-N-12) Bazalt cruise missile during the country’s first major air and naval exercises in the Atlantic Ocean in fifteen years. The test was conducted in the Bay of Biscay, off the coasts of NATO members France and Spain. The P-500 is a liquid-fueled supersonic cruise missile, with a range of 550 kilometers and a payload of 1,000 kilograms. The Russian Joint Naval Task Force, comprised of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier other destroyers and submarine hunters displayed high interoperability with the aircraft and will continue to test various systems for several more days. Russia’s latest exercise comes before its Presidential election, and is seen as part of a series of actions, including reviving North Sea overflights, to revive Russia’s military power. (Article, Link)
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» Cruise missile details: SS-N-12
Israel Tests Ballistic Missile
January 17, 2008 :: Ha'aretz :: News
Israel today announced the successful test launch of a ballistic missile capable of carrying an "unconventional" warhead, presumably nuclear. The missile was launched from the Palmachim military base near Jerusalem, where some 90 Jericho II missiles are believed to be stationed, according to Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems. The identity of the missile was not released. The Israeli Defense Force's brief press release on the test only described it as a "two-stage" missile. The purpose of the test was described as "testing missile propulsion." Israel has been believed to have had for several years the Jericho II missile with a range of 1500 km, and to be developing a Jericho III missile with a possible range between 4,800 and 6,500 km. The Jericho III was at one time expected to be in service by 2008, but has also been previously reported as having three stages. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Jericho 2, Jericho 3
Russia Successfully Tests New RS-24 ICBM
December 25, 2007 :: AP :: News
Russia's Strategic Missile Forces announced the successful test of the new RS-24 ballistic missile on December 25. The missile was launched from the Plestsk facility in northern Russia and destroyed targets on the Kura testing range located on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Said to be based on the Topol-M, the RS-24 is designed to replace aging Soviet-era missiles such as the RS-18 and the RS-20 (known as the SS-19 and SS-18 in the West). Interfax reports that the RS-24 missile can carry up to three warheads. The Strategic Missile Forces's statement declared, "The RS-24's deployment will strengthen the Strategic Missile Forces' capability to penetrate missile defense systems and strengthen the nuclear deterrent potential of Russia's strategic nuclear forces...The RS-24 will form the backbone of the Strategic Missile Forces and safely ensure the security of Russia and its allies through the mid-century." (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: RS-24, SS-27
Indian Conducts Missile Intercept Simulation
December 2, 2007 :: India Defence :: News
On December 2, India conducted a simulation of a ballistic missile intercept 15 kilometers above the Bay of Bengal. The simulation serves to prepare for a live intercept attempt slated for this coming week. India's Defense Research and Development Organization designed the Advanced Air Defence missile interceptor (AADO1) specifically for the endo-atmospheric test. The AAD01 is said to be a single-stage, solid-fueled, rocket-propelled missile. In the exercise, the interceptor missile was fired at 10.44 a.m. from Inner Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast. The electronics target, a derivative of Prithvi missile, was fired at 10.42 a.m. from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur, located about 120 km from Wheeler Island. The test is part of India's effort to deploy a two-layered ballistic missile defense. (Article, Link)
» Official Statement Announcing the Exercise
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