Iran makes ballistic missile breakthrough
TEHRAN (AFP) May 31, 2005
Iran announced Tuesday it had successfully tested a new solid fuel
missile motor for its arsenal of medium-range ballistic missiles, a
technological breakthrough that sparked fresh alarm in Israel.
"It was a test of a motor and not a test of a missile," a defence
ministry official told AFP, clarifying earlier reports in the Iranian
press that a missile itself was tested on Sunday.
A defence ministry statement quoted Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani as
saying that "the more durable fuel allows the missile to be more
accurate", and said the new technology could be built into Iran's
Shahab-3 missiles.
The test was "100 percent successful", Shamkhani said. The ministry
also denied a report on Iranian state television that a "two-stage
rocket motor" -- in theory for a missile capable of hitting Europe --
had been tested.
Iran says the Shahab-3 has a range of at least 2,000 kilometresmiles)
-- meaning that arch-enemy Israel and US bases in the region are well
within range.
The country has recently upgraded the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, a
single-stage device believed to be based on a North Korean design. Up
to now it has been based on liquid-fuel technology.
Military experts contacted by AFP said the test, if indeed successful,
would signify an important breakthrough for the Islamic republic's
missile programme.
Firstly, in order to develop a missile with a range greater than 2,000
kilometres -- in effect a two-stage rocket -- a country needs to
master the more complex solid fuel technology.
Iran has, however, denied developping a missile with a reach beyond
the Middle East region.
"The maximum range of a single stage missile is around 2,000
kilometers. In order to send a missile further, you need a twin stage
design that separates in mid flight," said one analyst.
"This separation is very complex, and in order to maintain the
accuracy of the missile, it needs to be using solid fuel. In very
simplistic terms, think of a liquid fuel missile as a bottle of
mineral water -- the liquid is sloshing around and makes the bottle
unstable," he said.
"And even if the missile is only a single stage design, solid fuel
makes it more accurate," he added.
Secondly, solid fuel missiles of all ranges are more mobile and can be
deployed far more quickly than liquid fuel devices, which need to
filled up immediately before they are launched.
"It makes the missiles far more portable. It makes missile deployment
much quicker. It makes missile deployment teams ," a military analyst
said.
Tehran's rapid progress on its ballistic missile programme is a major
cause for concern among the international community, particularly
Israel, which is already alarmed over Iran's nuclear activities.
Britain, France and Germany are currently engaged in a tough
diplomatic effort to resolve the nuclear issue without recourse to the
UN Security Council and possible sanctions.
In a quick reaction to the latest Iranian test, Israel warned the
"free world to beware of Iran's plans"
"We are closely monitoring these worrying projects being plotted in
Iran," said one senior Israeli official contacted by AFP.
"Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon and is developing its
vectors to this end. Its ballistic missiles do not only threaten
Israel: they can also be turned on Europe," he added.
Iran insists it is not seeking to develop missiles with a longer range
than the Shahab-3, and has denied allegations that it is seeking to
develop nuclear weapons. The country says its missiles will only be
tipped with conventional warheads.
But many are not convinced: as one Western diplomat in Iran has
remarked, "why develop a Rolls Royce to only deliver a pizza?"
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| User: "Perseid" |
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| Title: Re: Iran makes ballistic missile breakthrough |
01 Jun 2005 07:20:56 PM |
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Spat the Words
Iran makes ballistic missile breakthrough
"It was a test of a motor and not a test of a missile,"
The test was "100 percent successful",
As in, they were able to ignite some some solid accelerant ?
This is serious news.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Iran makes ballistic missile breakthrough |
01 Jun 2005 05:33:54 PM |
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Oh dear we are not watching an arms race are we?
Funny one would think with all the tech lying around, these folk would
have done this years ago, maybe it's the tensions of Geo and his Neo's
LB
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