China Test Launches Dong Feng-31 ICBM
September 5, 2006 :: Itar-Tass :: News
China yesterday test launched a CSS-9 (Dong Feng-31) intercontinental ballistic missile, according to a report by Itar-Tass. The missile was launched from the Wuzhai site towards the Taklimakan desert and traveled approximately 2,500 kilometers, according to a Russian official. Itar-Tass notes that an improved longer-range version, the Dongfeng-31A, is expected to be commissioned in 2007. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: CSS-9 (DF-31/DF-31A)
Iran Test Launches Sub-to-Surface Missile
August 27, 2006 :: AP :: News
Iran test launched a new submarine-to-surface missile today during war games in the Persian Gulf. The missile, called Thaqeb or Saturn, was shown in a video clip as exiting the water and hitting a target on the water’s surface within less than a mile. General Sajjad Kouchaki, the Iranian Navy Commander, said on Iranian state-run television that the Thaqeb could be fired from any vessel and could escape enemy radar. He added that the missile was based on domestic know-how, although outside experts say much of the country’s missile technology originated from other countries like Russia and China. Kouchaki did not give the weapon’s range, or its intended warhead. (Article, Link)
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Committee to Report on Agni-3 Launch Failure
August 24, 2006 :: India Defence :: News
On July 9, India test-launched its longest-range nuclear-capable missile, the Agni-3 intermediate range ballistic. The missile was successfully launched from Wheeler Island, off the coast of Orissa State, but crashed into the Bay of Bengal after traveling 1,000 km, rather than reaching its 3,000 km target. According to India-Defence.com, a committee set up to investigate the July 9 failure will deliver its report to the Indian government in two weeks. The committee is headed by a former Chief Controller of the Missiles and Strategic Weapons group of the Defense Research and Development Organization. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Agni-3
Iran Tests 10 Short Range Missiles
August 20, 2006 :: Washington Post :: News
Iran today test launched 10 short-range Saegheh missiles in the Kashan desert, about 250 kilometers southeast of Tehran. According to Iranian state-run television, the Saegheh (“lightning” in Farsi) is domestically manufactured and has a range of between 80 and 250 kilometers. The report quoted Iranian Brigadier General Kiumars Heydari as saying, “Surface-to-surface as well as surface-to-sea missiles built by domestic defense industries with considerable range, high precision and large production numbers, will enable us to prevent any type of threat.” The test launches were part of a large Iranian war game that began Saturday, August 19. (Article, Link)
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Russia Tests S-300
August 18, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
The Russian military recently tested the S-300 air/missile defense system in a major exercise at the Ashuluk range in Astrakhan Region, reports Russian Channel One Europe TV. The broadcast stated that the S-300 crews “warded off air raids and missile attacks,” but did not specify the number of missiles fired, their targets, or their rate of success. The broadcast noted that Russia’s air defense shield currently “protects 140 strategic facilities and almost a third of Russia’s population,” adding that “the technical characteristics of the targets against which fire is directed are superior to the missiles actually possessed by the potential enemy.” (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Belarusian Missile Crews Test S-300 in Southern Russia
August 10, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
This morning, Belarusian missile crews took part in a military exercise at the Ashuluk range in southern Russia that included tests of the S-300 air/missile defense system, reports the Belarusian news agency Belapan. During the operational and tactical exercise, crews from the 115th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade used S-300 systems to engage 15 target simulators imitating an attack by cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and supersonic aircraft. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russia Test Launches SS-25 Topol ICBM
August 3, 2006 :: MosNews :: News
Russia today test launched a road-mobile SS-25 Topol (RS-12M) intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia, according to Russian media sources. Major General Vitaly Seliverstov, deputy head of the Strategic Rocket Forces’ armament department, told Interfax that “the missile was test-fired to confirm the stability of its flight and technical characteristics during the extended period of operation.” Itar-Tass reports that the missile was fired from a mobile launcher. It is believed that the launch and flight of the Topol met all necessary standards, and that the missile hit its designated target on the Kamchtaka Peninsula at the scheduled time.
The SS-25 Topol was the first fully road mobile intercontinental ballistic missile commissioned by the Soviet Union. The Topol has a high rate of survivability, as it is difficult to locate and destroy a properly hidden road mobile system. MosNews reports that 300 missiles remained on duty as of 2005. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: SS-N-5
» Missile system details for: Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Reports: North Korean Taep’o-dong Exploded 1.5 km from Launch Site
July 30, 2006 :: Reuters :: News
U.S. military sources report today that the Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile test fired by North Korea on July 5 exploded in midair within some 1.5 kilometers of its launch site. The new information contradicts earlier claims by the Japanese government, which had estimated that the Taep’o-dong 2 had reached the Sea of Japan 400-600 km away from the Musudanri missile base in North Hamgyong Province. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
Russian Dnepr Launcher Crashes in Kazakhstan
July 27, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
A Russian Dnepr carrier rocket carrying 18 mini-satellites crashed today in a remote area of Kazakhstan shortly after its lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, reports RIA-Novosti. The Dnepr carrier rocket, a civilian version of the heavy SS-18 Satan (RS-20 Voyevoda) intercontinental ballistic missiles, experienced a second stage breakdown 86 seconds into its flight. Russia has been using converted ballistic missiles to launch satellites into orbit since 1999. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: SS-20
» Missile system details for: Baikonur Cosmodrome
India Test Launches Two Trishul SAMs
July 24, 2006 :: News
India today test fired two short-range Trishul surface-to-air (SAM) missiles from the test range at Chandipur-on-Sea, 15 km from Balasore, reports the Times of India. Hailed as the country’s “most sophisticated” SAM, the Trishul is about 3 meters in length, 200 cm in diameter, flies at supersonic speeds, and is capable of carrying a 15-kg payload. It is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine, and has a range in excess of 9 km. The Trishul was initially designed to intercept sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, but can also engage aircraft and helicopters. (Article, Link)
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