Posted on 01/12/2005 11:41:41 PM PST by F14 Pilot
Since Syria has no missile development infrastructure, it is a buyer of the weapons and is especially interested in accurate medium-range missiles that can hit Israel, Israel Aircraft Industries missile experts told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.
Syria lacks a satellite program needed to develop the ballistic missiles, and it is not worthwhile for it to develop this capability, according to a review on the regional missile threat presented by two IAI officials, Uzi Rubin and Yair Ramati.
The committee held a session on the topic on Wednesday, amid the developing crisis between Israel and Russia on Moscow's supply of missiles to Syria.
According to the experts, it is not worthwhile for Syria to upgrade the Scud missiles it has in its possession.
Iran, on the other hand, is totally self-sufficient in missiles, and is making great strides with help from expert Russian missile engineers who are acting privately, the committee was told. Iran is trying to expand the range of its missiles.
Committee chairman Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said he is concerned that the IDF does not have a missile response program, and said it should establish a unit that could launch from both the sea and land.
Two types of Iranian short- to medium-range missiles are present in Lebanon are: the Fajjar-3, with a 40-km. range and the Fajjar-5 which can hit at 70 km. Iran also has a new, tactical medium-range missile, the Fatah 110 that has a 250-km. range.
The more advanced missiles are only located in Iran itself, including the Scuds and Shihab-3, which can reach 1,500 km. and the recently-tested Shihab-4 that has a 1,700 km.-2,000 km. range. Those missiles are not accurate, however, and have a 1-km. hitting radius.
The development of the Shihab-4 proves that Iran has first-rate missile engineers, who are not all Iranian and include Russians.
The experts characterized the Shihab-4 as a significantly threatening to Israel and US forces stationed in the region. The Iranians are also aiming to improve the Shihab-4 which could range from the UK to China.
Syria's eager for missiles. Shall we send them some? ;)
I'm all for giving them as many missiles as we possibly can.
I say we send elite special forces into Syria and cut the throat of anyone we suspect of supporting the insurgency in Iraq. I'm sure a few of the throats we slice will belong to Islamofascists who are eager for missiles.
I think the time has arrived to give Syria a wake-up pinch.
I think you'll find a unanimous opinion here in favor of sending missiles to Syria.
Look to NK and Brazil as potential sellers.
"I would like to donate money to this cause. How much do I have to give to have one with my name on it be the first to land on Damascus?"
Tomahawk donation fund.
Hear! Hear! Why we haven't invaded already is beyond me.
Kerry was just in Syria right, guess he gave the Syrian president, or prince or whatever he's called, a big high five on this??
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Contributions for Syrian missile quest ping!
Syria should be careful what it wishes for. They want missiles? We can give lots to them. Delivered right to your door! *boom!*
Let's send 'em a couple of ours - pointy end first!
Luckily, the Syrian army today is weak, very weak, its not the army of 1967 and 1973. Their missiles are only a cover since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the death of Assad the father.
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