| Country: |
Syria |
| Associated Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Alternate Name: |
DF-15/CSS-6 |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
9.10 m |
| Diameter: |
1.00 m |
| Launch Weight: |
6200 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 320 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
800 km |
| Status: |
Unknown |
Details
The M-9 is a short-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile built under the designation DF-15 in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and which is believed to have been exported to Syria. It has not been confirmed, however, that Syria possesses M-9 missiles.
The tactical use of the M-9 is similar to the use of Iraqi ‘Scuds’ in the Gulf War. This involves using the missiles to strike at large military targets or to bombard a civilian area outside the range of traditional weapons, a tactic improved by the range and mobility of the missile’s Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle. The M-9 has double the range of the older ‘Scud’, but lacks the payload capacity. The lack of payload is compensated for by more modern high explosives or nuclear weapons, which yield equivalent damage. The modern GPS/inertial guidance systems make these missiles highly accurate and viable assets for targeting armored military targets.
The M-9 is capable of rapid targeting and does not require wind correction before launch, as it employs inertial guidance and an onboard computer. There are unconfirmed reports that the RV has the ability to make altitude adjustments prior to reentry and to adjust its terminal trajectory.
The M-9 is 9.1 m in length with a diameter of 1.0 m and a launch weight of 6,200 kg. It is equipped with a single warhead that can either be HE, 90 kT nuclear yield, chemical agents, EMP, or submunitions. It has a range of 600 km (373 miles) with an accuracy of 300 m CEP on older models and 30-45 m CEP for the GPS-upgraded models.
Should one exist, a Syrian version of the M-9 would probably be similar to the Iranian variant, which is believed to have a reduced payload of 320 kg in favor of a range extended to 800 km (497 miles). It could be launched from ‘Scud B’ TEL vehicles with only minor modifications and would likely be deployed in Syrian ‘Scud B’ TEL vehicles already in service.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Libya purchased around 140 M-9 missiles in 1989 and passed 80 of these onto Syria. It is unknown whether the order was completed, and there are no confirmed exports of the M-9 missile from China to any country. Though orders for the missile may have been made by Syria and other countries, it is believed that China cancelled its export plans to ease pressure from the United States, as any M-9 exports would have been in violation of the MTCR. As M-9 missiles or related technologies have been sold to Iran, Pakistan, and Egypt, Syria may have acquired the missiles from another producer.(1)
Further information regarding the M-9 can be found in the description of the PRC DF-15/CSS-6.
Footnotes
1. Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, Issue 50, ed. Duncan Lennox, (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2009), 23-4, 73.
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)
