Posted on 02/04/2012 2:06:06 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Iran has begun mass production of an anti-ship cruise missile, state television's website said on Saturday.
The Zafar missile, as it is dubbed in the report, "is a short-range, anti-ship cruise missile capable of destroying small- and medium-sized targets with high precision."
It can be mounted on speed boats and other light vessels, can withstand electronic warfare, and is able to fly in low altitudes to avoid detection, the report said.
Iran has a fleet of speed boats that often challenge US and allied warships in the Gulf.
The vessels are usually controlled by the elite Revolutionary Guards and can be equipped with missiles.
The Islamic republic says it has a wide range of missiles. It says some are capable of striking targets inside Israel as well as Middle Eastern military bases of its other main archfoe, the United States.
Tehran regularly boasts about developing missiles having substantial range and capabilities, but Western military experts cast doubt on its claims.
Iran's military said in January that it could close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, through which a third of global marine oil traffic passes, if it is attacked.
Iran mass producing new anti-ship missiles--- GoDubai.com ^
Posted on Mon 07 Mar 2011 07:21:09 PM PST by Perdogg
Should have a lot of them by now.
bump
I hope they’re using defective chips from China.
if that crazy SOB sinks a couple of big tankers in the Straits, it’s not going to defeat the US Navy, but it sure as hell is going to put a crimp in Exxon’s business model.
At the time in our history we are least capable of addressing a full scale war; I see one as unavoidable.
I believe Iran, when they say they are mass producing a missile that can be connected to a small speed boat. I believe them when they say these missiles are capable of doing damage to an American navy ship, as minor as that damage might be in reality.
But I don’t believe that Iran’s missile are particularly advanced. It would surprise me if those missiles could sink anything greater small holes in the bigger boats.
I think the main concern for the navy might be remote controlled boats filled with explosives. That could be troublesome.
Wonder how good they work from the bottom of the drink. I know its a very small target, but I hope we have a cruise missile programmed to nail AKMAMGETAJOB right between his crossed eyes.
Every “major” surface combatant in the Iranian “Navy” could be sunk in a couple of hours. The ChrisCraft Armada might be more of an issue. Interesting plan to work through.
Iran has been exporting advanced Chinese anti-ship missiles for years. What makes you think they couldn’t copy them?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Hanit
Iran is very cash strapped. They can’t even provide much for the average Iranian.
Even with help from the Russians, China and NorK, their ability to build weapons would be very limited.
It comes down to a choice of building a lot of cheap weapons or a few hi-tech ones. They probably can’t do both in a short period of time.
Seems like the sanctions are not holding them up from building up their weapon stores.
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