Both Iran and Israel said to be preparing intermediate range missiles
Geo-Strategy Direct, April 14, 2009
BM25 land mobile missile
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Israeli intelligence sources said Iran is completing modifications of the BM-25 ballistic missile, supplied to Teheran in 2007. They said Russian scientists and engineers were preparing the BM-25 for operational use in 2009.
“The BM-25 would give Iran the capability to strike anywhere in the Middle East and Europe,” an intelligence source said.
Iran acquired BM25 land-mobile missiles with launchers from North Korea and other sources. Now Russian scientists and engineers are said to be preparing the BM-25 for operational use.
Over the last three years, Iran acquired several dozen BM-25s from North Korea and Ukraine. The intelligence sources said most of the Soviet-origin missiles, designed for ship launch, were deemed faulty or obsolete.
Meanwhile Israel has prepared its own missile option against Iran, a report said.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies said Israel was preparing an intermediate-range missile attack option against Teheran. In a report, CSIS said Israel was deploying the Jericho-3 missile, with a payload of 750 kilograms, to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“If the Jericho-3 is fully developed and its accuracy is quite high then this scenario could look much more feasible than using combat aircraft,” the report, titled “Study on a Possible Israeli Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Development Facilities,” said.
Authored by analyst Abdullah Toukan, the March 14 study said Israel’s Jericho-3 contained a circle error of probability of several dozen meters. Toukan said the Jericho-3 could overcome the difficulties of an Israeli aircraft strike on Iran, located about 1,000 kilometers from the Jewish state.
“The most recent version of the [Jericho] missile seems to be a two-stage, solid-fuel propellant with a range of up to 900 miles [1,500 kilometers] with a 2,200 pound payload,” the report said.
The problems I see in this scenario, are that (1) a Jericho seems like an expensive way to deliver what amounts to a relatively small conventional payload with uncertain accuracy, and (2) it commits Israel to transiting the airspace of certain countries. Use of aircraft, manned and especially unmanned, and sea-based resources offer much more flexibility.
I think everyone here knows Israel’s limitations: No matter how carefully she plans, her initial successes will bring on an immediate clamp-down on Israel, with the US being a principal antagonist. Israel has only a small window to act, barring political miracles, and it needs to achieve decisive results in a short time. One way of assuring this, of course, is a preemptive nuclear strike against Iran. The political climate of Iran, the US and the Europeans, more and more, is dictating that Israel seriously ponder such a scenario. If the US were to back up Israel, of course, all this would be obviated; but Mr. Obama seems to have made up his mind against the stamp-sized Jewish homeland.
Comment by BlandOatmeal — April 15, 2009 @ 5:50 am
Who said Jews are smart? Worrying about Iran’s potential weapons while welcoming the Trojan Horse of the pope into Israel? A truly self-respecting Jewish nation wouldn’t let the pope step foot in the Holy Land of Israel unless he was bringing the Temple treasures and Judaica the Vatican holds hostage with him.
Warning Jews
Comment by David BenAriel — April 15, 2009 @ 9:37 am
Post 2 is a classic example of a diversion
On post 1
That is very true. Obama has initiated a truly horror situation for Israel. But it would be a grave mistake to see this other than the continuation of the Bush Cheney drive to isolate Israel.
For any fair person, and for any real supporter of Israel, then Israel has no alternative but to act.
And comment 1 points to the great dangers to Israel in that situation, but not from the ordinary people of America, and indeed of Europe also.
There is much hatred for Iran and Islamists.
But there is no focus. There is no party in America which can defend the rights of Israel to use whatever methods it ses fir.
The task of the hour is to create that party in America.
If the essence of Obama is not understood, which is the defence of US material interests int he world, same as Bush, then all is lost.
Look up http://www.4international.wordpress.com where in future weeks we will try to make sense of some of this.
Comment by Felix Quigley — April 15, 2009 @ 9:47 am
A few months ago, I stated that Israel’s option for the use of aircraft to attack Iran could not happen because it would require a flight through Iraq and the US would prevent it. I, also mentioned that it could use missiles to initiate an atttack. The writer of #1 on this page is a dummy when it comes to strategic weaponry. An Israeli missile launched can impact within 20 meters of target. If it has a hardened nose cone, it can penetrate deep underground before detonation so as to destroy the facility. It would probably require numerous missiles to kill all of the facilities, but Israel does have them.
Comment by Ed D — April 15, 2009 @ 11:08 am