Israel has been attacked with Soviet Kalashnikovs and Katyushas, Russian Fajr-1 and Fajr-3 rockets, Russian AT-5 Spandrel antitank missiles and Kornet antitank rockets. Russia’s outmoded weapons are now all the rage with terrorists everywhere in the world, and the bad guys know exactly where to get them. The weapons cases abandoned by Hezbollah were marked: “Customer: Ministry of Defense of Syria. Supplier: KBP, Tula, Russia.”
There is some truth, but much disinformation in this article.
Firstly, the Katyusha rockets were NOT Russian. Yes, the Soviets were the first to use them in WWII as an answer to German Artillery, but even Israel has admitted these are Syrian Katyusha rockets. Heck, over 20 countries make these low tech rockets, including the US. If you have a good firecracker plant you can make these rockets.
Secondly, the
Fajr-3 and
Fjar-5 rockets are Iranian, and were not even designed in Russia.
Thirdly, the Kalashnikov rifles may or may not be Russia. These rifles are produced in Russia, Albania, Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, Myanmar, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, and especially China, which exports more than anyone. Several other countries produce the weapon, but without a license. I know, the Russianphobes are going to say it just has to be Russia.
Fourthly, the
AT-5 Spandrel was developed at the KBP plant in Tula Russia, and went into production in 1974. The Iranians have a knock off called the Towsan-1/M113, which they begin to produce in 2000.
Fifthly, the
AT-14 Kornet is a Russian anti-tank weapon from the KBP plant in Tula, Russia. HOWEVER, they were reportedly used in Iraq, and that turned out not to be true. There were 8 empty cases found in Lebanon, and it was reported the rocket was used. Russia strongly denies selling or furnishing them to Hizbollah. The rocket was first put into use in 1994, and some were sold to Syria at that time. No Kornet parts have been found in Lebanon outside of the empty cases. My guess is they were furnished to Hizbollah by the Syrians and were fired at the Israelis.
==Gary writes: Secondly, the Fajr-3 and Fjar-5 rockets are Iranian, and were not even designed in Russia.
Just happened to stumble onto the following:
The Fajr-3 and Fjar-5 are N. Korean Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRL) which are heavily dependent on PRC technology and were licensed to be produced in Iran. It remains to be seen whether the provenance of said technology goes back further than the PRC.
After discovering the above, I have decided to check on the respective pedigrees of the remaining weapons as "made in such and such" country doesn't necessarily show where the weapon was designed--GGG