IRAN TESTS ENHANCED SHORT-RANGE MISSILE

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi

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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ISRAEL STATIONS NUCLEAR MISSILE SUBMARINES OFF IRAN






From The Sunday Times
May 30, 2010

Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.

The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including air bases and missile launchers.

The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.

The flotilla’s commander, identified only as “Colonel O”, told an Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating deep and far, very far, from our borders.”

Each of the submarines has a crew of 35 to 50, commanded by a colonel capable of launching a nuclear cruise missile . . .