The Sejjil-2 MRBM would be the most formidable MRBM in the Iranian arsenal. Add a nuke to it and Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem would become nuked out wastelands at Ahmadinenukeboy's whim.
Posted on 12/19/2009 6:58:05 PM PST by myknowledge
December 16, 2009: Iran has successfully tested today an 'optimized' version of the solid-fuel Sejjil-2 ballistic missile. The recent test builds on the first successful launch conducted in May 2009 (below). Iran has tested several combinations of propellant compounds to achieve reliable operation. Iranian sources indicate that the current missile has been configured to carry different warheads and uses stealth attributes ('anti-radar material coating'). The use of solid propellant dramatically reduces pre-launch preparations, enabling the missile to be fired immediately after being erected by the mobile launcher. The Iranians claim the solid-powered Sejill-2 is faster during the powered ascent as well as on reentry, and, therefore, more difficult to intercept. It is also more accurate than the former Shehab.
May 20, 2009: Iran has successfully test-fired a Sejjil-2 medium-range surface-to-surface missile, a solid-fuelled missile developed in Iran (with North Korean assistance). This missile is also known by the names Ghadr-110 and Samen. The missile is capable of striking targets at ranges beyond 2,000 km (1242 miles) carrying a 1.2 ton warhead. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confirmed the news on a visit to Iran's space and missile center at Semnan, from where the missile was launched. US pentagon sources confirmed the launch was successful indicating that according to initial data, the missile profile correlates with the larger Ashura (Ghadr-110) missile, with a range of 2,000 to 3,000 km (1,200-1,900 miles).
Iran began testing large solid-fuelled missiles in 2008. Such missiles are considered more versatile and survivable since they are stored with fuel, ready-to-launch on a moment's notice offering quick response capability as soon as the Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL) reaches the designated launch spot. Since preparations do not require fuelling the missile, the pre-launch process is quick and difficult to detect, thus, making these missiles much less vulnerable to pre-emptive strike.
Uzi Rubin, the founder of Israel's missile defense program, assesses Iran will gradually replace its liquid-propelled Shahab missiles with solid-fuelled Sejjil-2 to improve the survivability and agility of their strategic missile forces. Charles P. Vick, Senior Technical Analyst at Globalsecurity.org noted that the external dimensions of the new missile fit in the same logistic envelop as the Shahab-3B, 3C series lands mobile TEL.
Sejjil missiles are covering the entire area of Israel, Saudi-Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, from launch positions in central Iran. Rubin estimates that Iran will be able to extend its missile strike capability to 3,000 km by the end of the decade, with strike capability reaching well into central Europe. Indications of the preparations for a new launch site, much larger than the current launch pad at Shemnan are evident from satellite imagery obtained by Defense Update.
The Sejjil-2 MRBM would be the most formidable MRBM in the Iranian arsenal. Add a nuke to it and Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem would become nuked out wastelands at Ahmadinenukeboy's whim.
Whose airspace are they testing these over? Entirely within their borders, or out over the Arabian Sea?
I thought Israel said it would wait to the end of the year before any attack. It’s 12/19
Most likely Iranian airspace. They don’t want any missile fragments ending up over the Gulf as flotsam and falling into Gulf Arab hands, which they would hand over to us.
It amazes me how they are trying to get to where we were 30 years ago.
Guess the CIA and Obama and the UN missed this development.
Possibly, except for the development of real anti-Ballistic Missile technology and operational ABM systems. Thank you former President Reagan for helping to make this a reality. Also thank former President(s) Bush (both). Clinton, he did basically nothing to advance the science. obama, would cancel it altogether for his political agenda.
The Iranians have given everything away as far as intentions go. The very capabilities of the missile reveal exactly what it is intended for. 2000 km range - enough to hit Israel. No less, and they haven't bothered trying to push the range further. Instead, they started working on quality and reliability improvements. That tells us this is all the range they want and need, their target is in the envelope.
Payload capacity of 1.2 tons is significant too. With a conventional high explosive warhead it would make a big bang. But a single modern fighter-bomber can do more damage. (carry a bigger payload, hopefully on many sorties, not just a one-way trip) So 1.2 tons is a good sized crater, but not worth the expense and effort to send a relatively small number of missiles over. However, that is just about the expected weight of a first generation operational nuclear warhead.
To recap. Just enough range to hit Israel, then they go into an qualitative improvement program. Just enough throw-weight for a nuclear warhead, not enough that an HE warhead would be worthwhile. Their intent is clear. Israel, they are coming for you, get ready.
Obama is too focused on health care “reform” to give a damn.
The CIA is afraid of being sued for doing their job.
The UN is busy with their many hustles shaking-down productive countries for payola.
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