Free Republic

Iran last Friday test fired what it claims is the world's fastest underwater missile - reported to have a top speed of 360km/h (233mph), according to the BBC. Special Republican guard troops fired the weapon - dubbed "Hoot" or Whale - and successfully destroyed a derelict ship in the Gulf as part of Iran's "Holy Prophet" war games. Iranian TV interrupted normal broadcasts to show footage of the test. This latest bit of sabre-rattling, certain to irritate the US whose 5th Fleet operates in the area, comes hot on the heels of a test last week of a multi-warhead conventional...

In my recent “Conventional Global Strike” I promised to address soon other ways in which U.S. Navy submarine armament systems are dramatically broadening in reach and lethality. But observing the errors of fact and occasional tone nearing hysteria in some media lately, I feel compelled to first address an “enemy” weapon and put it in its proper place. This weapon has been called in print “hellacious.” It's been described as a “quantum leap” in the nature of naval warfare from this day forth -- a disruptive technology for which America is woefully unprepared. It's even been said that there's no...

CAIRO, Egypt - Iran has unveiled with great fanfare a series of what it portrays as sophisticated, homegrown weapons — flying boats and missiles invisible to radar, torpedoes too fast to elude. But experts said Tuesday it appears much of the technology came from Russia and questioned Iran's claims about the weapons' capabilities. Still, the armaments, tested during war games by some 17,000 Revolutionary Guards in the Persian Gulf, send what may be Iran's real message: its increased ability to hit oil tankers if tension with America turns to outright confrontation. To underline that message, the maneuvers — code-named "The...

Anti-Submarine Missile to Debut by 2007The Korea Times, August 5th, 2005, p. 1 By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter A state-run defense research institute said Thursday it plans to develop a sophisticated long-range anti-submarine missile on its own by 2007 as part of programs to build up a ``cooperative self-reliant'' defense capability. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said it has set aside a total of 100 billion won ($990 million) a year to build the anti-submarine missiles, which are being planned to equip 4000-ton-class destroyers. Last May, the Navy launched its fourth 4,000-ton-class destroyer, ``Wang Geon,'' which is capable...