CIA Report on WMDs and Ballistic Missile Proliferation
The CIA’s most recent intelligence estimate to Congress outlines the state of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile capabilities in a number of “countries of concern,” as well as continued proliferation by Russia, China, and North Korea.
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» More stories on: China, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia
Iraq Planned 1,000km Ballistic Missiles
The authoritative Jane’s
Missiles and Rockets magazine reports that Iraq was planning to develop ballistic missiles with ranges of at least 1,000 kilometers, far beyond the 150 km limit imposed by United Nations resolutions after the first Gulf War. Citing the interim report by David Kay of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) to the U.S. Congress, those in charge of the missile production were ordered by Saddam Hussein to design and build them within six months. The original original requirement issued in 2000 was to produce a 400-500km-range missile, but by 2002 had been increased to 600-1,000km.
Even while United Nations (UNMOVIC) inspectors were in the country, work apparently continued into early 2003 to convert the Russian S-75 (SA-2 ‘Guideline’) surface-to-air missiles into ballistic (surface-to-surface) missiles with a range of 250km. Previous plans along these lines existed prior to the 1991 Gulf war with conversions of the S-75 to the Al Fahd 300 and 500. Similar modifications, reports Janes, with the S-125 (SA-3 ‘Goa’) as the Baraq missile, and the Kub (SA-6 ‘Guideline’) as the Kasir missile.
Evidence was also found of two Iraqi cruise missile programmes, based on the Chinese HY-2 coastal-defence cruise missile. The two programs were the Al Faw and the Jenin, with planned ranges of 150-180, and 1000km, respectively.
The ISG also found papers documenting efforts to purchase missiles and missile technology from North Korea, which included the technology for missiles with a range of 1,300km—likely, says Janes, related to the No-Dong.
(Link)
» David Kay statement to House and Senate select subcommittees
» More stories on: Iraq, Proliferation
Russia to Deploy Fifth Topol-M Ballistic Missile Regiment
Janes
Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia will be deploying a fifth regiment of the Topol-M ICBMs. The regiment will have the RS-12M2 Topol-M (SS-X-27) and is set to become operational in December 2003.
According to Janes, Russia’s original plan to deploy one additional Topol-M regiment every year, to replace the older SS-17 and SS-18s, was not feasible—hence, one may infer, the recent testing and announcements to extend the service lives of the SS-17s and SS-18s for as much as fifteen years. The rate is now set to about one every 24-30 months.
(Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-6
