Iran successfuly tests 2000-km range ballistic missile
By Haaretz Service
Iran has tested a new missile using solid-fuel technology that matches the more than 2,000-kilometer range of its Shihab-3 rocket, Agence France Presse quoted the Islamic republic’s defense minister as saying Tuesday.
Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said the test, carried out on Sunday, was “100 percent successful.”
Iran has recently upgraded the Shihab-3 ballistic missile, believed to be based on a North Korean design, to have a range of at least 2,000 kilometers – leaving arch-enemies Israel and U.S. – via its bases in the region – well within range.
The Shihab-3 is based on liquid-fuel technology.
Tehran’s rapid progress on its ballistic missile program is a major cause for concern among the international community, particularly Israel, which is already alarmed over Iran’s nuclear activities.
2000 km range with solid fuel?? Correct me if I’m wrong but I think that’s only possible with a multi-stage design (which is far more different than No-Dong I / Shahab-III). If this mysterious missile is a new multi-stage one, than it shows that Iran accomplished a lot in the field of ballistic missile / guidance-control, but I’m rather skeptical about it…
If this missile is multi stage, this also shows that it travels outside the atmosphere in the midcourse phase. Once a country achieves this capability, then it’s easy to achieve further ranges easily (simply by increasing the amount of fuel). But solid fuel rocket motor production is very complicated (in contrary of its maintenance and storage). Can Iran do this? I’m again skeptical..
Here is a news from 2002..
Iran claims successful test of solid-fuel missile
Monday, September 9, 2002
NICOSIA — Iran has reported a successful test flight of its new solid-fuel surface-to-surface missile, believed to have been developed with help from China.
The official Islamic Republic News Agency said Teheran has successfully tested the Fateh A-110 missile. The agency said the missile, was tested on Friday.
The missile is said to be a solid-fuel rocket with a range of about 110 kilometers. But Iran has never released the range of the rocket and some experts believe the missile is based on the Chinese DF-11A missile, with a range of up to 400 kilometers.
Iranian officials said the successful test will lead to mass production of the missile.
“This is one of the most precise in the world,” Ahmed Hamidi, director of Iran’s Aerospace Industrial Organization, said.
“The production on a large scale of this missile will soon be launched and it will be used for the defense of the country, stability and regional peace.”
Neither Hamidi nor the IRNA provided details of the Fateh-110.
Iran last reported a successful test of the Fateh-110 on May 31, 2001. At the time, Iran also refrained from providing details of the missile.
Another solid-fuel program reported by Iran is the Zelzal-2. The rocket is said to have a range of 200 kilometers.
Western defense sources said Iran wants to use the success of the Fateh-110 to develop solid-fuel missiles with medium- and intermediate-ranges.
Iran’s solid-propellant rocket industry is said to be located at Sanam, 175 kilometers east of Teheran. Iran is said to have developed as many as 40 solid-fuel rocket motors.
Over the weekend, Iran announced it would hold a major exercise in the north in an effort to train the military to repel a nuclear attack. An Iranian military spokesman said 25,000 soldiers would participate in the exercise, the date of which was not announced.
Or did they simply put another “zero” to the range of the missile? 😉
By: matt - 6th June 2005 at 23:24
I wonder why some people are cheering at this? A Mullah-Run Theocracy tests a Missile and it becomes a Multi-Polar World? Wow!
Who said it had BECOME a multi polar world ?? come on now dont be so emotional i know your glad they tested the missile but atleast read the posts before you try out your lack of dry wit and sarcasm.
And it doesnt really matter if Iran has missiles or not. And i am sure you dont need to worry about Israel its a big enough bruiser/bulley to look after itself.
By: SOC - 6th June 2005 at 16:51
Errr just one thing
Which sollid engine or which Russian missile or design would this be copied from. As far as I know only the most recent missiles (Topol and Topol M) feature sollid feul engines. All main russian ICBMs used liqued fueled engines.
I don’t know about the SRBM and IRBM though, maybe they used sollid fueled engines….
Solid fuel ICBMs:
SS-13
SS-X-14
SS-X-15 (1st stage only)
SS-X-16
SS-20 (IRBM)
SS-24
SS-25
SS-27
By: Manu - 6th June 2005 at 10:56
As usual an emotional response that is devoid of logic.
Let us celebrate along with the Ayatollahs. Well, if India is under Missile range, by that definition so must Israel, I like the logic. 🙁
I am sorry I bothered :rolleyes:
By: Erez - 5th June 2005 at 20:10
well, I don care Buddy, when the WORLD never cared abt the N-weapons and long-range weapoins getting into a real fundamentalist state, no one cared. India is alread under the N-missile range and nothing more can be done to endanger the security.
And if u know Iranians, u’ll support my view that Iranians are far more liberal out there in that part and a far more civilised society. A persons attair should not be the ase on judging a persons character or his broad-mindedness in his outlook towards things.
Sure they are. If you consider public hangings of protesters liberal.
I agree that the Iranian people is not indifferent to the western life style. You can see more and more women there walking with jeans. Not many, but still.
The point is however that they got an irresponsible government, one that was not elected by the Iranian nation.
And when did this Isrealis become the inseperable frind of India??? ….. ask them to have some morals and choose the Truth in their path to have a peaceful atmosphere, u’ll find the real face of Isreeli’s with the firstshort being Y don u give away Kashmir. I bet on that my dear friend.
Since about the early 90s. There is huge tourism (in Israeli scale, of course) from Israel to India, the business ties between the two countries’ businessmen are getting tighter each year, and then there is the military cooperation.
AFAIK Israel has no official policy regarding Kashmir and quite frankly we shouldn’t give a damn. It’s your troubles, and we got enough of our own. We are not a global power such as the US. Your border clashes are none of our business.
And in todays terms ‘friends’ are those who have got NATURAL RESOURCES, MONEY & huge MARKET. Isreal don have any of these THREE, where as for them to stick with India as a Friend, we HAVE ALL THREE of these (with obvious shortages).
You make Israel sound like a pathetic little arms dealer that only has weapons to offer. Israel has natural resources, money from the government and private investments and a market. Not a huge one, but excuse us for not being a sub continent. You might want to refer to the CIA world facts book, available on the net for free.
And if u guys think that Isreal gives us so much tech, and think that we wud have been dammned if they did not, then its actually a shame on every Indian that, even after so much of effort, Indian’s cannot or will not be able to produce what it needs in the future in the field of avionics and electronics.
I think that you should be glad that your country has the wisdom to learn from others. Israel’s policy in this field is to ensure maximum cooperation between the Israeli supplier and local customer, including technical support, training centers and production lines in the customer’s country. India’s military industry is getting bigger and more sophisticated with time, but even you got to learn from others. We learnt from the French in the start, now you could learn from us.
If thats what u guys think, then damn the word and sink the concept after which most Indian’s rally around & take pride – Indigenious.
The indigenous ability will come later. You’re just getting started. It’s not a shame to buy and learn from another country just because it’s so much smaller than you. It’s not a shame for the US to buy from the UK, and for China to buy from Israel.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th June 2005 at 18:08
liquid fuelled birds are vulnerable. put it on the pad to fire it, fuel it then launch. one problem… if the enemy knows youre base or sees your tel stopped and you refuelling(takes time, delicate excercise) youre blown to bits. solid fuel is better. stop and just push the button…
By: Blackcat - 5th June 2005 at 16:51
I wonder why some people are cheering at this? A Mullah-Run Theocracy tests a Missile and it becomes a Multi-Polar World? Wow!
And Blackcat whatever be your sentiments towards Israelis, surely even you will stop short of popping the champagne cork when it looks like Iran will achieve nuclear blackmail potential w.r.t Israel, the only democracy in West Asia, and our friend.
well, I don care Buddy, when the WORLD never cared abt the N-weapons and long-range weapoins getting into a real fundamentalist state, no one cared. India is alread under the N-missile range and nothing more can be done to endanger the security.
And if u know Iranians, u’ll support my view that Iranians are far more liberal out there in that part and a far more civilised society. A persons attair should not be the ase on judging a persons character or his broad-mindedness in his outlook towards things.
And when did this Isrealis become the inseperable frind of India??? ….. ask them to have some morals and choose the Truth in their path to have a peaceful atmosphere, u’ll find the real face of Isreeli’s with the firstshort being Y don u give away Kashmir. I bet on that my dear friend.
And in todays terms ‘friends’ are those who have got NATURAL RESOURCES, MONEY & huge MARKET. Isreal don have any of these THREE, where as for them to stick with India as a Friend, we HAVE ALL THREE of these (with obvious shortages).
And if u guys think that Isreal gives us so much tech, and think that we wud have been dammned if they did not, then its actually a shame on every Indian that, even after so much of effort, Indian’s cannot or will not be able to produce what it needs in the future in the field of avionics and electronics.
If thats what u guys think, then damn the word and sink the concept after which most Indian’s rally around & take pride – Indigenious.
By: Distiller - 4th June 2005 at 10:00
Errr just one thing
Which sollid engine or which Russian missile or design would this be copied from. As far as I know only the most recent missiles (Topol and Topol M) feature sollid feul engines. All main russian ICBMs used liqued fueled engines.
I don’t know about the SRBM and IRBM though, maybe they used sollid fueled engines….
How should one know? There are only rumors. And based on a design doesn’t mean copied. And if it is true, that only the second stage is solid, that wouldn’t be such a large engine. And perhaps they are inspired by SS-N-17 or SS-N-20?
By: Sammie - 4th June 2005 at 07:13
Errr just one thing
Which sollid engine or which Russian missile or design would this be copied from. As far as I know only the most recent missiles (Topol and Topol M) feature sollid feul engines. All main russian ICBMs used liqued fueled engines.
I don’t know about the SRBM and IRBM though, maybe they used sollid fueled engines….
By: star49 - 4th June 2005 at 01:10
WOW, that truly a Global affair 😀 ….. seems like Iran is the newest follower of the American Globalisation. 🙂 :p
But the Russians shud have given some older longer-range missiles after some servicing and made some good amount on that for their own modernisation. These Russians don know to make a deal. :dev2:
On another note —– Pakistan’s long-range missiles is said to be based on the North Korean Taepo-Dong with the active assistance of the US in ignoring the whole deal which also include the N-tech transfer from the Chinese in the 80s. But hey the ruling Indians are soft hearted, so they quickly forget what the arseOles did and will hug as soon as u show some dollars.
What is meaning of long range in ur book? NK does not have neither the money nor links that PAK used to develop its missile program.
By: Sameer - 4th June 2005 at 01:04
Syria tested 3 scuds last week and North Korea aparently has developed solid fueled missiles.
By: Manu - 4th June 2005 at 00:02
I wonder why some people are cheering at this? A Mullah-Run Theocracy tests a Missile and it becomes a Multi-Polar World? Wow!
And Blackcat whatever be your sentiments towards Israelis, surely even you will stop short of popping the champagne cork when it looks like Iran will achieve nuclear blackmail potential w.r.t Israel, the only democracy in West Asia, and our friend.
By: Blackcat - 3rd June 2005 at 16:55
They are talking about Shahab/Shihab-4, which is said not to be based on the North Korean Taepo-Dong, but on a Russian design. Some say it’s a two stage design with liquid first and solid second stage.
WOW, that truly a Global affair 😀 ….. seems like Iran is the newest follower of the American Globalisation. 🙂 :p
But the Russians shud have given some older longer-range missiles after some servicing and made some good amount on that for their own modernisation. These Russians don know to make a deal. :dev2:
On another note —– Pakistan’s long-range missiles is said to be based on the North Korean Taepo-Dong with the active assistance of the US in ignoring the whole deal which also include the N-tech transfer from the Chinese in the 80s. But hey the ruling Indians are soft hearted, so they quickly forget what the arseOles did and will hug as soon as u show some dollars.
By: matt - 2nd June 2005 at 18:44
Multi polar world here we cometh
By: Distiller - 31st May 2005 at 14:01
They are talking about Shahab/Shihab-4, which is said not to be based on the North Korean Taepo-Dong, but on a Russian design. Some say it’s a two stage design with liquid first and solid second stage.
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May 31, 2005 at 1:22 pm