>>>Iran has purchased ground-to-ground missiles from North Korea with a range of 2,500 kilometers.
Something new every day.
Now I need to look at a map and see who's within the new range.
BTW, I'm sure you'd be interested in FReeper DoctorZin's blog. Best Iran info all on one page:
http://regimechangeiran.blogspot.com/
"Now I need to look at a map and see who's within the new range."
If North Korea were to successfully transfer an ICBM (this was an IRBM), the east coast would be in range based on the capabilities of the TD-2 tested in 1998. The theoretical ranges of the (untested) TD-3 cover all of the continental United States.
As I understand it, the Shihab-5 is a knockoff of the TD2.
This was written in 2000 and quoted a public 1999 NIE.
http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/journal/2000/issue3/jv4n3a5.html
" . . . Iran's efforts to develop a region-wide missile capability took a big step forward with the 1998 test launch of the Shahab-3. The United States believes that Russian technology has played a critical part in the development of the Shahab-3, though the missile itself is based on the North Korean No Dong. (36) In late 1999, a senior U.S. defense official reported that Iran was experiencing problems with the missile and had several unsuccessful tests. (37) However, in early 2000, the Iranians conducted another successful test launch of a Shahab-3, using one of a dozen North Korean rocket motors supplied to Tehran in early 1999. (38)
Iran is also believed to be working on more advanced systems. The Shahab-4 appears to be an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of 2,000 kilometers. In contrast, it appears that the Shahab-5 will be a 10,000-kilometer range intercontinental range missile (ICBM). (39)
Significantly, the U.S. intelligence community is no longer confident about how long it will take Iran to develop an ICBM.
"If Iran follows a development time line similar to that demonstrated with the Shahab-3, which included significant foreign assistance, it would take Iran many years to develop a 9,000 to 10,000 km range ICBM capable of reaching the United States. But Iran could significantly shorten the acquisition time-and warning time-by purchasing key components or entire systems from potential sellers such as North Korea." (40)
The U.S. intelligence community's evolving views on Iran's chance of acquiring ICBMs are reflected in the unclassified version of a National Intelligence Estimate released in September 1999. According to the testimony of the National Intelligence Officer responsible for the report, North Korea is the most likely country to acquire an ICBM. He added that, "Iran is the next hostile country most capable of testing an ICBM capable of delivering a weapon to the United States during the next 15 years." Other assessments of Iranian missile capabilities include the following:
--Iran could test an ICBM that could deliver a several-hundred kilogram payload to many parts of the United States in the latter half of the next decade (2005-2009), using Russian technology and assistance.
--Iran could pursue a Taepo Dong-type ICBM and could test a Taepo Dong-1 or Taepo Dong-2-type ICBM, possibly with North Korean assistance, in the next few years.
--Iran is likely to test a space launch vehicle (SLV) by 2010 that-once developed-could be converted into an ICBM capable of delivering a several-hundred kilogram payload to the United States.
Beyond that, analysts differ on the likely timing of Iran's first flight test of an ICBM that could threaten the United States. Assessments include:
--likely before 2010 and very likely before 2015 (noting that an SLV with ICBM capabilities will probably be tested within the next few years);
--no more than an even chance by 2010 and a better than even chance by 2015;
--and less than an even chance by 2015. (41)
Given the available information, it is probably prudent to assume that Iran will possess a missile capable of striking U.S. cities by 2010."
BTW, I'm sure you'd be interested in FReeper DoctorZin's blog. Best Iran info all on one page:
http://regimechangeiran.blogspot.com/
Definitely. Started reading it a year or so ago.