U.S. downs test missile with new interceptor
May 10, 2012 :: Reuters :: News
U.S. forces said they had destroyed a target in the first successful test of the Navy's newest anti-missile interceptor, designed to protect allies from attacks by countries like North Korea and Iran. (More »»»)
» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Ballistic Missile Defense (US), Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
GOP plans East Coast missile defense shield to counter Iranian nuclear threat
May 8, 2012 :: The Hill :: News
A new Republican plan to set up a missile defense site on the East Coast has attracted election-year fireworks, with Democrats accusing the GOP of pushing the idea to undercut President Obama’s national-security credentials. (More »»»)
» More stories on: Budget, Iran, Ballistic Missile Defense (US)
Russia Acknowledges Nuclear Threat from N. Korea & Iran
April 25, 2012 :: News
Russia has for the first time acknowledged the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and Iran. (More »»»)
» More stories on: North Korea, Russia, Iran, Nuclear Weapons
Iran criticizes deployment of NATO missile shield in Turkey
April 24, 2012 :: News
A senior Iranian lawmaker has criticized the deployment of NATO’s missile shield in Turkey, saying the regional peace should be bolstered through dialogue among regional states.
(More »»»)
» More stories on: Iran, Turkey, NATO, Russia
Iran Satellite Launch Raises ICBM Concerns
February 4, 2009 :: New York Times :: News
On Monday, February 2, Iran successfully launched a small satellite into low-earth orbit, in what represents a major step forward for the Iranian missile program. Rocket technology is transferable, of course, and the technical ability to place a satellite in low orbit is closely related to the ability to deliver a warhead over a long distance, even intercontinental distance. There are many similarities between the booster technology for missiles and that for space programs. Ballistic missiles are in a sense space weapons, as warheads spend most of their time traveling outside the atmosphere.
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) accelerates a warhead to velocities of approximately 7km/sec. By comparison, a space launch vehicle must accelerate a satellite to around 8km/sec. For a given payload, it would require more thrust to put an object into orbit than to deliver it over an intercontinental distance, but it is slightly easier to put a very small object into low earth orbit than it is to accelerate a larger payload to a slightly lower velocity. The weight of the Iranian satellite (some 27kg) is considerably less than that of a nuclear warhead or other weapon of mass destruction. Iran therefore likely has some improvements to make before demonstrating true ICBM capability. Nevertheless, this week's test represents a considerable achievement for Iran's missile program.
For these slightly technical reasons, many countries' "space launch vehicle" (SLV) programs are actually euphemisms for ICBM development. The success of a space launch vehicle sometimes coincides closely with the demonstration of ICBM capability. In 1957, for example, the world witnessed in short succession both the orbit of Sputnik and the first successful ICBM launch, both by the Soviet Union.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Monday that the launch of the Omid (Hope) satellite into orbit meant that Iran had "officially achieved a presence in space." The elliptical orbit of the Iranian satellite means that it has passed over the United States a number of times in the space of a few days. Like Sputnik, the Omid satellite is said to be transmitting radio signals.
The Obama administration's press secretary Robert Gibbs commented that "This action does not convince us that Iran is acting responsibly to advance stability or security in the region." State Department official Robert Wood noted that this capability could "possibly lead to the development of ballistic missiles" and were of "great concern."
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Iran, Testing - Foreign
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)
» More stories on: Iran, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Fateh A-110, Zelzal-1/2/3, Shahab 3
Hackett: Iran's Missile Leap
February 25, 2008 :: Washington Times :: Analysis
James T. Hackett discusses Russia's reaction to Iran's recent missile launch in the February 25 edition of Washington Times. On February 4, Iran launched a modified "Shahab-3B" medium-range missile, designed to launch Iran's first domestically produced satellite, Omid-1, into orbit. An Iranian reconnaissance satellite could help missiles target sites in Israel, U.S. bases in the Middle East, and most importantly Europe or North America itself. Indeed, Iran's launch is eerily reminiscent of North Korea's 1998 launch of a 3-stage Taepodong missile, "which [Pyongyang] also claimed was for launching satellites." Even the Russians, who have shied away from tightening sanctions on Iran and have criticized the U.S.'s plan for a limited missile defense system in Europe, were concerned. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, "We do not approve of Iran's actions in constantly demonstrating its intentions to develop its rocket sector and in continuing to enrich uranium," while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said Tehran's actions "provoke concern" and raise "suspicions" about its claim not to be building a nuclear weapon, since a long-range rocket is a key component of any nation's nuclear weapons capability. Given Iran's continued missile testing and improvements, Hackett concludes by stressing that Congress must fund the planned missile defense site planned for Eastern Europe. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, Iran, Russia
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)
» More stories on: Iran, Testing - Foreign
Iran Announces New Ballistic Missile
November 27, 2007 :: Reuters :: News
On November 27, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar announced that Iran had developed a new ballistic missile called the Ashoura, with a range of 2,000 kilometers. It is unclear whether the Ashoura is indeed a new missile or a variation of the current Shahab-3, and Najjar did not say how the new weapon differed from the Shahab-3, which Iran has also previously claimed to have a range of 2,000km. With a range of 2,000 kilometers, the Ashoura missile could target Israel, U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf, and parts of eastern and southern Europe.
Mark Fitzpatrick, a weapons expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said, "I think it's a pretty strong likelihood that Iran has received technology that has extended the range of their missiles, and maybe the development of a whole new missile with a longer range." Israeli experts said that unlike the Shahab series, the Ashoura uses a multi-stage, solid-fuel engine that would make it especially effective for long-range strategic use.
Iran unveiled another new missile, Ghadr-1, with a range of 1,800 km at a military parade in September and, at that time, referred to the Shahab-3 as having a range of just 1,300 km. Najjar also said a new Iranian-built submarine would be delivered to the navy on Wednesday. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Iran
» Missile details: Shahab 3
Report: Iran Warns U.S. It Has 600 Ballistic Missile Targets in Israel
July 16, 2007 :: Ha'aretz :: News
Citing diplomatic sources, the Qatari daily Al Watan reports that Iran has targeted with missiles some 600 targets in Israel should the U.S. attack the Islamic Republic. Iran also warned that should the U.S. or Israel attack Syria, Iran would retaliate. Recently, the London-based Guardian newspaper has reported the U.S. is carefully examining a possible strike against Iran, with Vice President Dick Cheney strong supporting the move while Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have voiced their opposition. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Iran, Israel
