[pnews-news] Iran's Missile Program

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Sunday, April 2, 2006


Iran Test-Fires Missile Able To Duck Radar

     By: Ali Akbar Dareini
     TEHRAN: (AP) Iran's military said Friday it successfully test-fired a 
missile not detectable by radar that can use multiple warheads to hit 
several targets simultaneously, a development that raised concerns in the 
United States and Israel. The Fajr-3, which means "victory" in Farsi, can 
reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East, Iranian state media 
indicated. The announcement of the test-firing is likely to stoke regional 
tensions and feed suspicion about Tehran's military intentions and nuclear 
ambitions.

     "I think it demonstrates that Iran has a very active and aggressive 
military program under way," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli 
said in Washington. "I think Iran's military posture, military development 
effort, is of concern to the international community." Gen. Hossein 
Salami, the air force chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, did not 
specify the missile's range, saying how far it can travel depends on the 
weight of its warheads.

     But state-run television described the weapon as "ballistic" 
suggesting it is of comparable range to Iran's existing ballistic rocket, 
which can travel about 1,200 miles and reach arch-foe Israel and U.S. 
bases in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region. "Today, a remarkable goal of 
the Islamic Republic of Iran's defense forces was realized with the 
successful test-firing of a new missile with greater technical and 
tactical capabilities than those previously produced," Salami said on 
television, which showed a brief clip of the missile's launch.

     "It can avoid anti-missile missiles and strike the target," the 
general said. He said the missile would carry a multiple warhead, and each 
warhead would be capable of hitting its target precisely. "This news 
causes much concern, and that concern is shared by many countries in the 
international community, about Iran's aggressive nuclear weapons program 
and her parallel efforts to develop delivery systems, both in the field of 
ballistic missiles and cruise missiles," said Israeli Foreign Ministry 
spokesman Mark Regev.

     "The combination of extremist jihadist ideology, together with nuclear 
weapons and delivery systems, is a combination that no one in the 
international community can be complacent about," Regev said. Yossi 
Alpher, an Israeli consultant on the Mideast peace process, said the news 
"escalates the arms race between Iran and all those who are concerned 
about Iran's aggressive intentions and nuclear potential."

     "Clearly it's escalation, and also an attempt by Iran to flex its 
muscles as it goes into a new phase of the diplomatic struggle with the 
U.N. Security Council." Andy Oppenheimer, a weapons expert at Jane's 
Information Group, said the missile test could be an indication that Iran 
has MIRV capability. MIRV refers to multiple independently targetable 
re-entry vehicles, which are intercontinental ballistic missiles with 
several warheads, each of which could be directed to a different target.

     "From the description, it could be a MIRV. If you are saying that from 
a single missile, separate warheads can be independently targeted then 
yes, this is significant," he said. "But we don't know how accurate the 
Iranians are able to make their missiles yet, and this is a crucial 
point," Oppenheimer said. "If the missile is adaptable for nuclear 
warheads, then they are well on the way," he added. "But they have not 
made a nuclear warhead yet. The current estimates are it could take five 
years."

     Iran's existing ballistic rocket is called Shahab-3, which means 
"shooting star." It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Israel and 
the United States have jointly developed the Arrow anti-ballistic missile 
system in response to the Shahab-3. Iran launched an arms development 
program during its 1980-88 war with Iraq to compensate for a U.S. weapons 
embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel 
carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.

     Last year, former Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said Tehran had 
successfully tested a solid fuel motor for the Shahab-3, a technological 
breakthrough in Iran's military. Salami, the Revolutionary Guards general, 
said Friday the Iranian-made missile was test-fired as large military 
maneuvers began in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The maneuvers are 
to last a week and will involve 17,000 Revolutionary Guards as well as 
boats, fighter jets and helicopter gunships.

     The tests come amid growing concern over Iran's nuclear program. The 
United States and its allies believe Iran is seeking to develop nuclear 
weapons, but Tehran denies that, saying its nuclear program is for 
generating electricity.

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