February 9, 2010

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Shahab-5

Country:  Iran
Associated Country:  North Korea
Class:  IRBM or SLV
Basing:  Surface based
Payload:  Single warhead
Propulsion:  2 or 3-stage liquid/solid
Range:  4000-5000 km
Status:  Development

Details

There are unconfirmed reports that Iran is developing either a solid-propellant, three stage missile or a liquid/solidsatellite launch vehicle.The difference between this program and the Shahab 4 program is debated. The missile is believed to be based on the North Korean Taep'o-dong 2. As a result of its likely inaccuracy, the missile's utility is probably restricted to attacking population centers or spreading radiation rather than hitting military targets. The missile is thus probably more of a blackmail or terrorist weapon than a military asset.1

The Shahab-5 is still in development. There is little concrete information regarding its capabilities, other than that it will most likely consist of two or three liquid/solid propellant stages. Some reports claim that the missile's range will be around 4,000 km others say it will be 5,000 km. If these reports are accurate, they place the Shahab-5 among the new class of long range missiles being produced by Iran in conjunction with North Korea. Like the Shahab-6, the Shahab-5 owes most of its technology to the North Korean Taep'o-dong 2, which in turn is largely derived from Chinese technology.

The integration of technology from the North Korean Taep'o-dong 2 missile into the Shahab-5 represents a substantial security concern for the U.S., as it is the stepping stone to the development of an Iranian ICBM. If its 4,000 km reported range is accurate, the Shahab-5 will be able to target most of Europe, Russia, and Asia. Reports indicate that the system is expected to be two to three stage missiles, improving on the ability of the Taep'o-dong 2. There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the propulsion systems. Some reports also indicat the possibility of Russian SS-4 or SS-5 boosters which would increase its range and payload capacity.2

This development has not gone unnoticed amongst the European community. The threat of a missile with the capable range equal to that of the projected range of the Shahab-5 is inspiring warmth towards U.S. missile defense systems amongst smaller eastern European nations.3 In the first week of February, 2008, reports indicate that Iran tested a missile. Russian reports claim that it was possibly a more advanced Shahab-3, indicating either the 4 series or 5 series. Russian officials expressed concern over the test citing a missile test is an integral part of nuclear weapons programs.4 In addition, the possibility exists that Iran will give or sell its missile technology to rogue states or terrorist groups antagonistic to the UnitedStates. Iran's military is known to support terrorist groups, openly supporting Hezbollah, and the Iranian government has little central control over its own missile force.5

Footnotes

  1. Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 41 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, July 2004), 8-9; and Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 42, (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2005), 102-103; Federation of American Scientists, "Shahab-5/IRSL-X-3, KOSAR/IRIS," available at http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/missile/shahab-5.htm, accessed on 9 June 2008.
  2. Charles P. Vick, "Shahab-5/Kosar," GlobalSecurity.org http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/shahab-5.htm, 2 March 2007. Accessed on 9 June 2008.
  3. "US Missile defence system aimed at ‘global intentions' -Czech pundit," BBC Monitoring Europe- Political, www.bbc.co.uk , 16 February 2007, Accessed on 9 June 2008.
  4. Associated Press, "Iran: Russia Says New Rocket Raises Nuclear ‘Suspicions,'" The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/world/worldspecial/07briefs-ROCKET.html?ref=world, 7 February 2008, Accessed on 10 June 2008
  5. Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, July 2007), 74.

Iran Could Test ICBMs by 2005

May 20, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News

Middle East Newsline reports that U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iran could begin testing components of intercontinental ballistic missile in 2005, likely from the Shahab missile family.
        “During 2003, Iran continued R&D in its longer-range ballistic missile programs, and publicly reiterated its intention to develop space launch vehicles — and SLVs contain most of the key building blocks for an ICBM,” CIA director George Tenet told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Feb. 24. “Iran could begin flight-testing these systems in the mid- to latter-part of the decade.” (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Iran, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: Shahab-5, Shahab-6

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