MissileThreat :: Shahab-6

Country:	Iran
Associated Country:	North Korea
Class:	ICBM or SLV
Payload:	Single warhead
Warhead:	Nuclear
Propulsion:	Multi-stage liquid/solid
Range:	6000 km
Status:	Development

Details

The Shahab-6 is the longer range of the new class of Iranian missiles being developed in conjunction with North Korea. Similar to the Shahab-5, the Shahab-6 is based on technology from the North Korean Taep'o-dong 2, which in turn is based on Chinese technology. Reports indicate that this missile designation has been in the planning and development stage since 1997.¹

The Shahab-6 is a two or three-stage liquid/solid fuel rocket. The missile uses most of the same systems as the Shahab-5, but economies in weight and payload increase the range to approximately 6,000 km (3,728 miles). The missile is intended to carry one single warhead with a substantial yield, most likely in the area of 500-1,000 kg. As a result of its inaccuracy, the missile's utility it probably restricted to attacking population centers and spreading radiation rather than hitting military targets. Thus, the Shahab-6 is more likely a blackmail/terrorist weapon than a military asset. Significant reports indicate that the Shahab-5 and Shahab-6 have the possibility of being developed into satellite launch vehicles (SLV). Little is known about the Shahab-5 project and even less is known about Shahab-6. Sources indicate that the project has been classified as Kosar.

The integration of technology from the Taep'o-dong 2 missile into the Shahab-5 represents a substantial security risk for the U.S. If its 6,000 km reported range is accurate, the Shahab-6 will be able to target most of Europe, Russia, and Asia. Reports indicate its engine's possible burn time would be up to 330 seconds, which would classify the system as an ICBM.² This is dependent on the uncertain intelligence available on these systems. The United Kingdom, a staunch ally of the U.S., will be completely vulnerable to an attack, as will be a number of other key U.S. allies. In addition, the possibility exists that Iran will give or sell its missile technology to rogue states or terrorist groups antagonistic to the US. Iran's military is known to support terrorist groups and the Iranian government has little control over its own missile force.³

Footnotes

Martin Sieff, "Iran's long-range missile plans worry Netanyahu; Says US cities may be targeted," The Washington Times, 1 October 1998, www.washtimes.com, Accessed on 9 June 2008
Anthony Cordesman, Martin Keliber, "Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting capabilities: The Threat in the Northern Gulf," 2007, Praeger Security International, http://0-psi.praeger.com/, Accessed 9 June 2008
Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 41 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, July 2004), 8-9; and Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 46, (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2007), 74; GlobalSecurity.org, "Shahab-6," available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/shahab-6.htm, accessed on 23 May 2005.

Iran Parades Missiles

September 22, 2005 :: News

Iran conducted a military parade today to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, the beginning of what Iran calls “holy defense” week. The parade took place conducted south of Tehran, near the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini. At his first military parade since taking office, President Mamhoud Ahmadinejad addressed dozens of top Revolutionary Guard officials, as well as generals in the regular army. (The Revolutionary Guard operates Iran’s ballistic missiles.)“Those who decide to misuse our nation’s honour and dignity and want to test what has been tested in the past, should know that the flames of the nation’s wrath are very hot and destructive,” said Ahmadinejad. The parade’s announcer repeatedly cried “God is Great!” when six Shahab-3 missiles went past the presidential viewing platform. The announcer said too, “If world arrogance wants to attack Iran … [it] will destroy their countries with these missiles.” Some of the missiles had banners saying, “Israel should be wiped off the map” and “We will trample America under our feet,” “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel.” The banners and verbal attacks prompted a number of European military attaches, from France, Italy, Greece, and Poland, to leave the parade. One diplomat is quoted as saying, “there was a common position among the European Union members that, if the military parade included any slogans that attacked our allies, we would leave.”

The major media services report the display of the Shahab-3, but there were a number of others. According to a summary of the parade provided on live Iranian television (Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1) and translated via BBC Monitoring, the missiles displayed included:

Shahab-3, 2,000km range
Zelzal 1 and Zelzal 2, range 150-400
M-11 Variant/Tondar-68, purchased from China, range 400km
Nazeat
“M-6”(see below)
HQ-2 air-/missile-defense system, purchased from China

The reference to an “M-6” missile may well be a typographical error. It more likely refers to the M-9 variant, which Iran purchased from China. The term “Nazeat,” however, has been used to describe a primitive 150km range missile.

M-9 missile, range 600km, purchased from China

Summary of parade provided by Iranian television: (More »»»)

» AFP Summary of parade

» Iranian TV account of parade, via BBC Monitoring

» More stories on: China, Chinese Missile Defenses, Iran, Proliferation

» Missile details: M-9 variant, M-11 variant, Shahab-6, Zelzal-1/2/3

» Missile system details for: Hongqi-2 (HQ-2)

Iran Tests Solid-Fuel Missile Engine

May 31, 2005 :: New York Times :: News

In what constitutes a major development for its missile program, Iran has reported success in its test of a solid-fueled ballistic missile engine which is probably designed for a newer version of the Shahab missile family. The range of the solid fuel motor is purported to exceed the stated 2,000 km range of the existing, but gradually upgraded, Shahab-3. Such a reach could give Iran the capability to target all of Israel, Turkey, much of India, parts of Germany and China, and U.S. forces stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. According to Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, the test was “100 percent successful.”
If the Iranian claims are accurate, the test represents a significant breakthrough for Iranian missile technology. Solid fuel offers abundant advantages over liquid fuel. It provides its missiles with greater accuracy, faster mobility, quicker deployment, and a longer shelf life. Iran seems likely to arm these missiles with nuclear warheads. Al-Jazeera quoted one Western diplomat as noting, “Why develop a Rolls Royce to only deliver a pizza?” (Article, Link)

» More stories on: Iran, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: Shahab-6, Small ICBM, SS-1A

Iran Tests Suggest Possible EMP Trials

April 27, 2005 :: Jane's Information Group :: News

The May edition of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets reports that recent missile tests by Iran may have been part of the development of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) warhead. Jane’s cites testimony from the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security from March 8, 2005, by Peter Pry and Lowell Wood. Wood is a member of the Congressional EMP Commission, which released its important report on the EMP threat in July 2004.
        Some of Iran’s tests of its Shahab-3 had been terminated before the completion of their ballistic trajectories, that is, exploding in mid-flight by what appeared to be a self-destruct mechanism. Iran has nevertheless described the tests as fully “successful.” Pry noted that the apparent contradiction would make sense “if Iran were practicing the execution of an EMP attack.” Lowell Wood is quoted as having testified to the subcommittee that such an attack upon the United States could keep off most electrical functions for a time period of a few hours or decades, depending on how it was executed. Wood also warned the subcommittee that such an EMP warhead could be delivered against the United States by “a Scud missile launched from a freighter off the Atlantic coast.”
        Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security, wrote about the EMP threat in the April 15 edition of the Washington Post.
        Joseph Farah from World Net Daily carries a related story today, available online. (Link)

» July 22, 2004: EMP Commission releases report

» April 15, 2005: Washington Post, Sen. Jon Kyl on the EMP threat

» April 27, 2005: World Net Daily on possible Iran EMP preparations

» Full text of The Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack

» Missile details: Shahab-6, Small ICBM

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

Iran Upgrading Range of Shahab-3

February 25, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News

Iran’s highly effective Shahab-3 will not only be marketed to other countries such as Syria, but will also be undergoing some significant enhancments to extend its range. The Shahab-3 currently reaches some 1,300km, but the improvements could extend that to 1,600km, according to the Middle East Newsline. The upgrades would, it is reported, substitute for Iran’s Shahab-4 development program. However, there are already indications that a form of the Shahab-4 has already been deployed and put into service in 2003. (Article, Link)

» Shahab-3 details

» Shahab-4 details

» More stories on: Iran, Proliferation, Technology

» Missile details: Shahab-6, Small ICBM

Iran’s Successful Missile Tests Puts Israel Within Range

July 7, 2003 :: Ha'aretz :: News

Iran again successfully tested its Shahab-3 missile, with a range capable of striking Israel. This particular test, according to Ha’aretz, “was the most successful so far of the seven or eight tests of the missile over the last five years, and has increased worries in Washington - which spotted the test with its tracking mechanisms - and in Israel.” (Article, Link)

» More stories on: Iran, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: Shahab-6

Libya Buying Iranian missiles

June 19, 2003 :: Ha'aretz ::

Libya is reportedly paying large sums to Iran to purchase versions of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Ha’aretz also notes that the Iranian government has sent ground-to-ground missile experts to aid in the development of the Libyan missile program. (Article, Link)

» More stories on: Iran, Libya, Proliferation