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.

[vannrox]

Technologies Underlying Weapons of Mass Destruction
OTA-BP-ISC-115
GPO stock #052-003-01361-4
NTIS order #PB94-126984

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[freeforall]

"I'll tell you why: cuz the US gov wants enemies, especially in the Mid-East." This need comes from where?

"The US _needs_ a wartime economy."This need would provide what?Do you think that there are countries that aid and comfort terror outfits or they just made it all up.

[LaGrone]

Iran, all your missiles are belong to us!

[hflynn]

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.

This just in: Iran renames missles programs in honor of Greece. Shihab development programs are now redesignated Shiskabob-x programs.

[tortoise]

Hmmm. Battlefield lasers?

That was the first thing that popped into my head. We've been shooting down missiles with lasers for twenty years in our R&D programs, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if we had deployable assets of that type. And "inflight motor failure" is THE failure mode for a laser intercept. I've seen footage of anti-missile laser tests and it is a very discrete way of knocking out a missile; you don't see anything, but the missile motor suddenly eats itself in the same way it would if there was an engineering failure.

[monday]

"When are we gunna suckup to them? Why aren't we sucking-up to them? So, suck-up to the retoric; Sucker."

LOL... don't have a clue what you are on about.. but its a pretty funny post anyway:) Thx for the comic relief:)

[Straight Vermonter]

A recent trial of the Iranian Shihab-3 missile failed when the engines exploded, reportedly causing a number of casualties

I guess those people got sheish-Shihab-ed.

[monday]

"Here's a restatement of Rack's position to make it a little more cogent. Notice I said a little."

Wow, I'm impressed! Do you actually understand Raving Loonish, or did you use a translator like babelfish?

[Robert_Paulson2]

It is amazing what one space based weapon can do, if you focus the waves or beams tight enough outside the visible spectrum....

heh... heh...

Love them new satellites.

"Oh Yeah baby!!! (in his best austin powers voice) Let's get shaggin'! This time YOUR pad." Missile pad that is.

[Robert_Paulson2]

you mean "deployed" dude. YES. We have them. I would stake a lot on it. We sent up a LOT of military sats in the last 15 years.

The enemies of freedom should be afraid... very afraid. IF we find them. WE WILL hit them... because we can.

There may in fact be... a whole fleet of USA... DEATHSTARS, in the tradition of Darth Vader's regime.

no place to hide.

[quesera]

Mossad or CIA ?

Either way, keep up the good work.

[GreaserX]

Rocket fall down-go BOOM!

[Rain-maker]

Roflmao...nice play on words..LOL

[The Real Deal]

All right, Rack is an idiot ignoramus. I hope this settles it.

[The Real Deal]

All right, Rack is an idiot ignoramus. I hope this settles it.

[Sangamon Kid]

The Iranians missile program reminds me of the movie,The Mark of Zorro, when Anthony Hopkins (the accomplished swordsman, Zorro) asks the untrained Antonio Banderas character about his experience using a sword.

Hopkins (pointing to the sword): "Do you know how to use that thing?"

Banderas: "Yes, the pointy end goes into the other guy."

[In mourning for six years]

Wily E. Coyote? LOL, best laugh of the day, thanks!

[Windy-Dave]

I was just reading over some information I have saved about Particle Beam Weapons! I am sure its just paranoia taking over but after reading the article the thought struck me why now in Iran and involving the Shahaib 3 missile? Curious occourence though maybe just a preemtive strike, just like attacking the Nuclear Reactor in Iraq.

I believe our technology is more than adequate to accomplish this, maybe we are furthur along than we thought!Our government is good at not exposing (most) things it wants to keep secret. This missile is top priority in Iran and poses a real danger if developed to full operational status! Sure makes a paranoid wonder though!

[BenF]

A recent trial of the Iranian Shihab-3 missile failed when the engines exploded, reportedly causing a number of casualties.

However many casualties there were, it was too few.

[steve50]

Unless there are some Swiss accounts out there, klintoon was very cheap.