Iran missile trial fails, casualties reported

Ha'aretz ^ | Ffebruary 10.2002 | By Ze'ev Schiff

[Rain-maker]

Iran missile trial fails, casualties reported

By Ze'ev Schiff

A recent trial of the Iranian Shihab-3 missile failed when the engines exploded, reportedly causing a number of casualties. Experts say the repeated failures in the engines of the ground-to-ground missile will undoubtedly delay its production - however this does not mean Iran does not have operational missiles capable of reaching Israel.

Western sources say the failed trial took place three weeks ago and for the first time the blast claimed casualties and, according to one source, lives. No official Iranian announcement of the mishap has been made.

The first trial launch of the Shihab-3 took place on 23 July, 1998, and caught Israel and other intelligence services by surprise. Iran announced that the launch was a success, however closer scrutiny suggested this was not the case. The missile lifted off and stayed airborne for about 100 seconds, and then crashed. Experts said the failure was due to an engine problem.

The second test launch was also declared a success. It later emerged that the Iranians had installed a North Korean engine in the missile, not an Iranian one. North Korean know-how has been instrumental in the development of the Shihab-3. However, recent efforts to harness Russian expertise in dealing with the engine problems of the Iranian missile have failed to yield positive results.

Israel succeeded in convincing the U.S. of the need for a third deployed battery of Arrow anti-ballistic missiles to counter the Shihab-3 whose range is estimated to be 1,300 kilometers.

Experts say the Shihab-3 failures will only delay the program, and they note other efforts by countries to develop ballistic missiles, suggesting that it is only a matter of funds and time before a missile can be made ready for production.

Another possibility is that if Iran seeks to have the Shihab-3 ready for deployment, it may choose to use the more reliable North Korean engines. North Korea also provides missile technology to Syria and Egypt.

Iran is also developing Shihab-4, with an estimated range of 2,000 kilometers. The development of the long-range system has caused a degree of concern in Western Europe. In spite of Tehran's promises to Europe that the development of the Shihab-4 would be halted, it appears Iran is continuing work on this project.

[Republican Wildcat]

lol

[Centurion2000]

what the hell does islam have to do with some country making missiles? does the fact that america has wepons of mass destruction tarnish cristianity?

We, unlike islam, have the common sense not to use them. We've had the bomb for close to 60 years and never used it except to finish off the last World War.

Pakistan got it and all of a sudden they come close to two all out regional nuclear wars with India inside of 3 years.

Iraq is drooling to send jihad atoms to Israel and Iran is trying to ship a bunch of palestinian monkey boys weapons and a nuke if they could.

Islam can build the weapons, but since most islamic societies are stuck in the 12th century (or earlier) ... we'll just take them from you when you do manage to make one.

[apastron]

does the fact that america has wepons of mass destruction tarnish cristianity?

No. Might tarnish the living $hit out of Tehran one day though...

[Mo1]

Experts say the repeated failures in the engines of the ground-to-ground missile will undoubtedly delay its production

Ok .. stupid question here .. but what the heck is a Ground to Ground missile???

[Captain Shady]

Hope they don't believe in trying again until they succeed.

[Mentos]

Thank you for those coherent, well thought-out opinions. You should be on NPR.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Iran missile trial fails, casualties reported

who's there secetary of defense Wily-E-Coyote :)

[lafroste]

You Sir are an idiot.

[July 4th]

How much do you want to bet that the "failure" had a little help from our friends...

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

And he would want a Nobel peace prize for being such a good friend to the Iranians.

[AmerRepb]

The Shihab-3 may not go into production at all--the production and testing of the prototypes could be merely an interim phase in Iran's ongoing development of the Shihab-4, which will have a range of about 2000 km and larger payload capacity. Unlike its predecessor, the Shihab-4 is the product of exclusively Russian ballistic technology and can carry biological, chemical or nuclear warheads (it's ostensible purpose is to launch satellites into orbit). Development of the Shihab-4 is expected to be completed within 2-3 years. Experts have also estimated that Iran will develop a long-range ballistic missile, the Shihab-5, capable of reaching targets in the United States, by 2010.

[exit82]

That blowed up REAL good!

Thanks for the laugh--I had the best image of the late John Candy in his Canuck garb saying that!

[kinghorse]

The die is cast. President Reagan and his administration had the prescience to see what would inevitably happen in the progression of technology. Computers make it possible for every nation intent upon harnessing the seductive lure of ICBM technology to eventually possess missiles capable of piercing the atmosphere.

Does the west have the meansand the will to once again render it's poorly copied technologied by the east obsolete?

[Squantos]

Hummmmmm ??.......no daylight cover on yer PVS-4 is really gonna piss off yer Armorer if ya turn it on........

Good pic anyway :o) Stay Safe !

[teletech]

I don't know how they can say this was a failure? The missle blew up didn't it? So, I guess it was successful after all. Hehehehe.

[kinghorse]

Rack is not so much an idiot as he/she is an ignoramus. There is a difference, one the function of bad genetic luck, the other the failure to learn or be taught.

[monkeyshine]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer country. Well.. maybe Iraq, or Syria, or...

[cibco]

"Ok .. stupid question here .. but what the heck is a Ground to Ground missile???"

Missle fired from the ground to a target on the ground. Air to air missle is one fired by an aircraft at another aircraft. Then you have ground to air... air to ground... okay? :)

[apastron]

I had the best image of the late John Candy in his Canuck garb saying that!

Now you have another one. (Not sure what he's saying though...)