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)
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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)
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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)
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» 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
Stakelbeck on a New Ballistic Missile Triad
June 14, 2007 :: Washington Times :: Analysis
Fredrick Stakelbeck writes for The Washington Times discussing the the emerging ballistic missile threat to the United States from Russia, China and Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has assisted Iran with the development of its missile technology and nuclear program, has recently claimed he may freeze Russia's compliance with the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty. Russia recently tested a new RS-24 missile which is especially designed to penetrate missile defenses.
The recent Department of Defense report on China's military spending "catalogs in great detail the country's continued efforts to establish not only a defensive ballistic missile capability, but an offensive ‘first strike' capability as well. The expected deployment of additional mobile, land and sea-based ballistic nuclear missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland have raised serious questions in Washington about the county's regional and global intentions." While China has maintained a "no first strike" policy, "other sources suggest that they are possibly developing capabilities for a more flexible use of nuclear weapons that would call into question this declared policy."
Led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran has developed with significant Chinese and Russian assistance, its Shahab-3 and Shahab-4 missiles, which can target Israel and Europe respectively. Iran also has continued its quest to acquire nuclear weapons despite diplomatic efforts to halt its program.
Stakelbeck concludes, "In the meantime, the United States and its allies should consider increasing funding dedicated to the research, development and testing of a more agile anti-missile defense umbrella. By taking this important step, the combined offensive intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities of China, Russia and Iran, as well as rogue nations such as North Korea, will be made increasingly irrelevant." (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, Russia, Iran
Iran Tests Missiles in Exercise
January 22, 2007 :: Financial Times :: News
Iranian television has announced the beginning of a military exercise Sunday, involving the tests of short range missiles. The Muharram Missile Exercise is said to be taking place in the Garmsar region, outside Tehran. The 350km-range Zelzal and the 70km-range Fajr-3 rocket were reportedly among those tested. These missiles are of course modest compared to Iran's more capable 2,000km-range Shahab-3/4.
The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran radio quoted a Commander A'ineh of the Revolutionary Guard as saying that the exercises were to test the ability to attack an enemy at a variety of distances. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - Foreign, Iran
» Missile details: Zelzal-1/2/3
Jerusalem Post: Syria and Iran Smuggling Long-Range Missiles to Hezbollah
December 3, 2006 :: Jerusalem Post :: News
Syria and Iran have smuggled “truckloads” of long-range missiles into Lebanon over the past four months, reports Yaakov Katz in The Jerusalem Post. During the Lebanon war from July to August 2006, the Israeli Defense Force destroyed most of Hezbollah’s long-range missile arsenal, including the Iranian-made Fajr and Zelzal missiles. But according to Israeli military intelligence, Hezbollah has since received weapon convoys carrying long-range missiles, as well as short-range and anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah has stored these weapons in its extensive system of underground tunnels and bunkers in southern Lebanon, despite the presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces south of the Litani River. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli military intelligence believes that “sooner or later” Hezbollah will resume military operations against Israel in the form of rocket and mortar attacks. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Israel, Iran, Syria, Proliferation, Terrorism
» Missile details: Zelzal-1/2/3
Rubin: Iran “Major Missile Power” in Region
November 30, 2006 :: UPI :: Analysis
Uzi Rubin, former head of Israel’s missile defense program, argues in a new study published by the Institute for National Security Studies that Iran is now “the major missile power” in the Middle East. “No other country in the world … comes close to Iran in the number and variety of ballistic missiles in development or already deployed,” Rubin writes. He lists Iran’s assets: Shahab-3 medium-range missiles, an “an indispensable complement to [Iran’s] nuclear ambitions”; Scud B and Scud C short-range missiles, manufactured “in considerable quantities”; Zelzal short-range missiles, which can target troop concentrations; the Raad, an advanced version of the Chinese Silkworm anti-ship cruise missile; and an assortment of smaller anti-tank missiles. “Every major city and military installation between the western shores of Turkey and the eastern border of Pakistan and between the Black Sea in the north and the southern narrows of the Red Sea are within range,” he writes. Moreover, Iran can now hit any point in the Middle East from well-protected, fixed silos “survivable against preemption.” He warns: “There should be no doubt that in case of conflict, Iran will launch Shahab-3 missiles regardless of their flight test record, and that some of them will reach their destinations.” Rubin adds that Iran is also developing satellites, and that any suitably modified space launch vehicle can serve as an intercontinental ballistic missile. At the rate they are going, “Iranian missiles will dominate the entire continent of Europe by the end of this decade,” he concludes. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Israel, Iran, Analysis
» Missile details: Shahab 6, Scud B/C/D variants, Zelzal-1/2/3
