| Country: |
Egypt |
| Associated Country: |
North Korea |
| Alternate Name: |
Scud B variant |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
11.25 m |
| Diameter: |
0.88 m |
| Launch Weight: |
5900 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 950 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage liquid |
| Range: |
190 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1993 |
Details
The Egyptian Project T is a program based upon the Russian "Scud B" design. "Scuds" are short-range ballistic missiles designed by the Russians for battlefield use or civilian assault. The original Russian design was based off of V-2 technology and delivered a 950 kg payload to a maximum range of 190 km (118 miles) with an accuracy of 3000 m CEP. Modern variants are typically fired from a Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TELs), effectively a large truck with a missile storage and launch structure in the cargo area. Technological improvements have greatly increased the range and accuracy of the original design, and the nuclear and chemical capabilities have made it a popular delivery system.
Egypt's older "Scud" missiles were used to strike Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur war and the production of "Scud" variants has increased Egypt's ability to strike at Israel. Though older "Scuds" can be intercepted by Israel's existing Arrow anti-ballistic missile system, longer-range missiles can be angled in a way that increases their terminal speed beyond Israel's ability to intercept. Such an attack would undoubtedly provoke a large-scale response and threaten to involve the United States. The added possibility of Islamic terrorists striking with "Scud" missiles adds a dangerous third element, particularly if equipped with a chemical, biological or nuclear payload.
Though the exact nature of the Project T enhancements of the Russian ‘Scud B’ design is unknown, the specifics of the Russian original are as follows: a length of 11.25 m, a width of 0.88 m, a launch weight of 5,900 kg and a single-stage liquid propulsion.1
With North Korean help, the Project T missile has improved the capabilities of the ‘Scud B' to a range of 450 km (279 miles) using more advanced construction materials and fuel design. It is believed that it maintains the 985 kg payload equipped with high explosives. Production is believed to have been started in 1990 and over 90 missiles have been produced.2 In February 1999, Cairo's Al-Ahram reported that "Egypt is continuing its efforts to develop and produce Scud-B missiles . . . In the first half of 1998 Egypt continued to acquire ballistic missile components and related equipment from North Korea. This activity is part of a long-range program of cooperation between these two countries in the sphere of ballistic missiles."3
Reports indicate that Egypt is developing a short range ballistic missile that exceeds the projected range of the Project T. These reports point toward their working on this weapon since 2003. Because of its projected range and payload, as well as its aid from North Korea, it appears to be similar to the ‘Scud C' model, but with a solid propellant.
‘Scud B' missiles have been exported to: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Libya, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Syria, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Yemen. Unconfirmed reports between 1996 and 2000 have suggested that ‘Scud B' missiles have also been purchased by Armenia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Pakistan, Peru, and the Sudan.4
A more complete analysis of the original missile design can be found for the Russian ‘Scud B’ section of the website.
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2007), 41.
- Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 41 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, July 2004), 5.
- Usamah al-Ghazali Harb, "Who Is Destroying US-Egyptian Relations?" Al-Ahram, February 18, 1999, in FBIS Document FTS19990219000533, February 18, 1999.
- Lennox Volume 46, Page 41
