Free Republic

Vietnam is believed to be embarking on a programme to produce its own variant of a missile based on the Russian Zvezda-Strela 3M24 Uran (SS-N-25 Switchblade). While the details of how it will be produced are not yet clear, the programme would be a boost to local industry. It would also be likely to simplify logistics support for the 3M24s already being operated by the Vietnam People’s navy, write Douglas Barrie and Tom Waldwyn. Vietnam has become the second Asia-Pacific nation, it would appear, to embark on the indigenous production of a missile based on the Russian Zvezda-Strela 3M24 Uran...

North Korea has a new anti-ship missile with a range of 130 km that poses a big threat to South Korea's elderly patrol corvettes. A recent propaganda film shown on North Korean state TV shows the missile is similar to the U.S.' Harpoon missile, a military source here said Sunday. "It's probably either the Russian-developed Kh-35 Uran or a copy." The missile was shown among the country's closely guarded submarines, which were also featured for the first time. The Kh-35 was developed in Russia in the mid-90s and has been exported to Burma, India and Vietnam. It is hard to...