U.S. Sanctions Russian Company’s For Missile Tech Proliferation
July 23, 2004 :: News
On July 15, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Nonproliferation enacted sanctions against the Russian Altai research and production complex for actions constituting proliferation of missile and other technologies.
The Russian Interfax news agency cites Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak that the Russian Foreign Ministry “regrets” the U.S. sanctions, but points out that the actions in question were no violation of Russian law or its own understanding of its nonproliferation obligations.
We too “regret” the sanctions—not for their imposition but for their need to be imposed. We should regret, but nevertheless admit, that Russia and China are both primary sources of missile and nuclear proliferation. (Article, Link)
» Iran hopes to acquire “booster” from Russia to enhance capabilities of nuclear weapons
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
Iran Again Tests Shahab-3
October 20, 2004 :: AFP :: News
Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani announced that Iran had today again tested an upgraded version of its Shahab-3 ballistic missile, in the presence of observers. Shamkhani would not comment on the specific range or the location of the test, but Iran has previously claimed that the “strategic” missile has a range of 2,000km; Iran’s IRNA news agency last month quoted former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani that Iran possessed that capability. Such a range not only threatens Israel, but also U.S. bases in the region and parts of Europe. Rafsanjani also commented at the time, “Experts know that a country that possesses this [range] can obtain all subsequent stages in missile production.”
On October 7, Nasser Maleki, the deputy director of Iran’s aerospace industry organization, commented that “Very certainly we are going to improve our Shahab-3 and all of our other missiles.”
Iran’s ballistic missile development has been steady, and not without foreign help. The recent upgrades to the Shahab-3 are believed to be due in part to Chinese assistance, including a more accurate guidance system and an improved warhead more suited to carryign chemical weapons. Hours after today’s test, the Moscow News carried a piece boasting that the Iranian Shahab-3, and the North Korean No-Dong from which it was partly derived, both employ Russian missile technology. (Article, Link)
» Iran’s Revolutionary Guard acquiring greater control
» Oct. 20: Moscow News: Russian missile tech used for Iranian, North Korean advances
» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Proliferation, Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Shahab-3, Shahab-4
Duelfer Report: Russia Aided Iraq Missile Programs
October 8, 2004 :: The Moscow Times :: News
According to a report recently presented to the U.S. Congress by U.S. weapons inspector Charles Duelfer, Russian engineers were traveling to Iraq to aid Saddam Hussein’s missile program from 1999 and 2003. Hussein had requested Russian help and missile systems—and in some cases received them. North Korea also helped Iraq develop its Al-Samoud 2 missiles.
In addition, the report notes that Iraq wanted to acquire the Russian air defense system, the S-300, apparently via a son of former Syrian Defense Minister Mustafah. The report did however say that an Iraqi engineer had “gained access” to an S-300 system.
An excerpt of the report:
• ISG uncovered evidence that technicians and engineers from Russia reviewed the designs and assisted development of the Al Samud II during its rapid evolution. ISG also found that Iraq had entered into negotiations with North Korean and Russian entities for more capable missile systems.
• According to contract information exploited by ISG, Iraq imported at least 380 SA-2/Volga [a.k.a., S-75] liquid-propellant engines from Poland and possibly Russia or Belarus. While Iraq claims these engines were for the Al Samud II program, the numbers involved appear in excess of immediate requirements, suggesting they could have supported the longer range missiles using clusters of SA-2 engines. Iraq also imported missile guidance and control systems from entities in countries like Belarus, Russia and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).
(Article, Link)
» Key Findings of Duelfer Report
» Vol. 2 of Duelfer Report, on Iraqi missile systems and nuclear programs
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: Al Samoud
» Missile system details for: S-75 (SA-2 Guideline), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Superpower Proliferation to Iran: Seven Chinese Companies Sanctioned; Three from Former Soviet Union
September 27, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
The State Department imposed sanctions on fourteen firms or individuals today for illicit proliferation, seven of which were on Chinese companies. The Chinese companies were sanctioned for the proliferation of unconventional weapons and missile technology to Iran.
In addition, one Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian companies were also sanctioned, as well as one from North Korea. Each of these entities was charged with selling materials to Iran.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher commented on the Chinese companies that “There was credible evidence that these entities had transferred one of several categories of items to Iran” since January 1999. “That would be equipment listed on multilateral export lists, items that have a potential of making a contribution to weapons of mass destruction or cruise or ballistic missiles.” (More »»»)
» VOA: Fourteen firms or individuals sanctioned
» Sep. 29, 2004: 100 tons of S. Korean dual-use sodium cyanide reached N. Korea by way of China
» More stories on: China, Iran, North Korea, Proliferation, Russia
U.S. Sanctions Chinese Firm Proliferating WMD Technology
September 21, 2004 :: News
The U.S. State Department has ordered sanctions on the Chinese state-owned company, Xinshidai, for proliferating material and technical expertise useful to produce weapons of mass destruction. A U.S. official is quoted as saying that Xinshidai “provided material assistance to a country for programs capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction,” but did not name the country to which they sold such materials.
On August 23, The Washington Times reported transfer of missile technology from China to Iran.
Such reports only confirm that the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction to so-called “rogue regimes” is a problem which must be seen within the bigger picture of superpower politics. Russia and China indisputably remain the real sources of such proliferation, and the primary, strategic, threats to the United States. (Article, Link)
» Aug. 23: China selling missile technology to Iran
» More stories on: China, Iran, Proliferation
U.N. Report: Iraq Exported Banned Missile Engines
September 8, 2004 :: Washington Post :: News
The new Iraqi authorities have been systematically shipping parts of formerly banned missiles to outside the country, according to a recently released report by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, or UNMOVIC. The May report, to be presented before the UN today, found that at least 42 engines from banned missiles have been shipped to other countries as scrap, as well as other equipment useful for assembling weapons of mass destruction. Counties to which such materials have been shipped include Jordan and the Netherlands, but the report suggests that much more has been shipped to Asia and other parts of the middle east.
The missile engines came from SA-2 or Guideline missiles of Soviet origin, but could have been used in other Iraqi ballistic missiles, to exceed the 150km range limitation on Iraqi missiles imposed by the UN. The SA-2 or V-75 was a Soviet surface to air missile—incidentally, similar to those which were deployed with nuclear warheads around Moscow in 1964 as part of its air and missile defense system. The UN report also said that the new Iraqi government has been destroying and cleaning up former missile facilities and chemical weapons production establishments. (Article, Link)
» May 28, UNMOVIC Report on Iraqi Missiles
» June 11, 2004: UN Report renews concerns about Iraqi missile proliferation
» More stories on: Iraq, Proliferation
China Source for Missile Technology to Iran
August 23, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
Bill Gertz of the Washington Times reports that according to U.S. officials, a Chinese company has supplied missile technology to Iran, despite Chinese treaty obligations and promises to the contrary.
Gertz reports that “the transfers took place within the past six months and represent a continuation of past Chinese covert arms transfers to countries such as Iran and Pakistan.”
Gertz cites the recent report by the congressional U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission as naming a number of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles which have been sold to Iran. These included “a number CSS-8 and DF-15 ballistic missiles to Iran, along with cruise missiles identified as HY-1, HY-2 Silkworm, C-201, C-601, C-801 and C-802.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Iran, Proliferation
Taiwan VP: Chinese Missiles Aimed at Taiwan Will Reach 800 by 2005
August 10, 2004 :: Taipei Times :: News
Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu stated yesterday that China will have 800 ballistic missiles aimed at the tiny island nation by 2005, in response to criticisms of a previous, controversial, statement, that the two nations were in a state of “quasi-war.”
The number 800 represents a significant increase from previous statements, such as that by President Chen last November and U.S. intelligence estimates earlier this year, which put the number of missiles deployed at 500. Lu’s statement, reported by Reuters, was that, “Mainland China has accelerated its missile deployment. By next year, the number of missiles will likely reach 800 and it is growing at a speed faster than we have expected.” U.S. intelligence have put the rate of China’s deployment of additional missiles at 75 per year, but Lu’s claim could represent a significant acceleration. (Article, Link)
» Aug. 6, 2004: PRC lobby gets Taiwanese flag, anthem, advertising banned from Olympics
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Taiwan
Jane’s: North Korea Deploying 2,500km Range Missile, Capable of Ship-Launch
August 3, 2004 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Jane’s Defense Weekly reports that North Korea is deploying two different forms of a new missile system, with capabilities to strike both U.S military forces in Guam and Japan and also the continental United States. The new missile is believed to be based primarily upon the Russian R-27/SS-N-6 submarine launched missile, as well as some SS-N-5 technology and assistance from the Russian missile manufacturer VP Makeyev Design Bureau. The land-based mobile version of the missile has an estimated range of missile 2,500-4,000 km, and the submarine- or ship-based version some 2,500 or more.
Besides the indication of Russian proliferation, the significance of such a ship-launched missile to North Korea is the very scenario so often discussed here on Missilethreat.com: a ship-launched ballistic missile attack upon the United States. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld spoke of such a threat in October 2001, and Assistant Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz has since warned of the same. Such a prospect points to the need for a much more robust missile defense architecture, which includes space based systems. The long range midcourse interceptors to be deployed in Alaska and California would not have sufficient time to meet and destroy such a missile. A space based laser, reacting at the speed of light, is one serious alternative.
Update: August 4: The Russian Interfax news agency quotes “Admiral Eduard Baltin, ex-commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Hero of the Soviet Union,” as having “ruled out” the possibility of the transfer of Russian SS-N-6 missile technology to North Korea, and calling the reported transfers “absurd.”
Update: August 5: New York Times coverage of the story cites an unnamed official dismissing concern about the newly deployed missiles: “There is no way this can hit the mainland.” The story improperly dismisses the sea-launched version of the missile, weakly citing “doubts” that its purpose was to be launched from a freighter, and pointing out that North Korea has no submarines. Such slight of hand ignores entirely that there are two versions of the missile, one of which is designed to be launched by sea. The initial report by Jane’s Defense Weekly, cited by the New York Times, had correctly observed that “Both these new land- and sea-based systems appreciably expand the DPRK’s ballistic missile threat…The missile capable of being launched from submarines of ships is potentially the most dangerous.” (Article, Link)
» AFP summary of Jane’s report
» Globalsecurity.org description of “No Dong B”
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-5, SS-N-6
Hezbollah Terrorists Seeking Missiles From Syria
July 29, 2004 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
The Hezbollah terrorist group is reportedly seeking to acquire short range, chemical weapons armed ballistic missiles from Syria, according the head of the Israeli Defense Force intelligence branch, Major General Ze’evi Farkash. The Global Security Newswire cites a story from the Voice of Israel radio program.
Bloomberg reports that Hezbollah has already acquired missiles with a range of 215 kilometers. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Syria, Terrorism
