Friday, September 3, 2010
IRAN TESTS ENHANCED SHORT-RANGE MISSILE
On Wednesday, August 25th, Iran announced it had conducted a test launch of an enhanced version of its Fateh 110 short-range missile (Agence France-Presse reported. The domestically produced ground-to-ground weapon "works on solid fuel, so compared to previous generations it has an increased range and accuracy. Its preparation as well as launching systems are speedier," said Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi. "This missile, which is in the short-range class, has added new features to the country's missile system," he added.
The domestically produced ground-to-ground weapon "works on solid fuel, so compared to previous generations it has an increased range and accuracy. Its preparation as well as launching systems are speedier," said Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
"This missile, which is in the short-range class, has added new features to the country's missile system," he added.
The launch was shown on television, but it was not immediately known when the test occurred.
Vahidi also did not provide details on the third-generation missile's maximum flight distance, AFP reported. An earlier iteration of the Fateh 110 had a range of 90 to 125 miles (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Aug. 25).
Vahidi said Iran's military would receive the new missile next month.
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On reading this news story, I note something of interest. It doesn't say if it actually hit anywhere near a target. All they seem to have proven is it got off the ground without exploding. Reckon they'd brag on it working well if it had hit it's target. "More accurate" leaves a lot of room considering how inaccurate their missiles tend to be. Scaled up Katyushas?
ReplyDeleteShooting a missile 125 miles in the wrong direction probably would perturb the people where it landed, but isn't of much military utility.
Remember when Nork Korea launched the missile over Japan and into "the Pacific somewhere"? There are a lot of military targets in the Pacific, but it helps to hit a bit better than "Somewhere in the Pacific East of Japan."