http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20110210_3437.php
Iran Tests Antiship Ballistic Missile
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
Iran asserted it had test-fired on Monday a new land-based ballistic missile capable of striking ships within 185 miles, Fox News reported (see GSN, Feb. 7).
These missiles are ultrasonic and can never be detected and intercepted by the enemies," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said of the weapon. "The result of these defense projects is a very long leap in maintaining the security of the country in the sky and in the sea.
Iran released a video it said depicted the launch, but the footage was impossible to confirm, according to Fox News.
"I recommend you contact Iran with questions about their weapons programs," one U.S. Defense Department spokesman said. "We are comfortable with our security posture and hope Iran will be a positive neighbor in the region."
Washington has not ruled out use of armed force against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, which is suspected of masking a weapons program. Tehran says its atomic operations have no military component and has pledged to retaliate following any attack.
An independent expert questioned the veracity of Iran's announcement.
Every now and then they get the idea of testing new missiles, and once we discovered that they had used Photoshop to show seven missiles simultaneously, said Ali Nourizadeh with the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies. Iran has also altered missiles acquired from abroad to appear domestically constructed, he said (see GSN, July 11, 2008).
An October explosion at Iran's Imam Ali Missile Base eliminated 30 to 40 percent of the Middle Eastern nation's missile capabilities, Nourizadeh asserted. The cause and ultimate impact of the incident were unclear, Fox News reported (Amy Kellogg, Fox News, Feb. 10).
Defense Minister Vahidi said these missiles have entered production
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
Iran asserted it had test-fired on Monday a new land-based ballistic missile capable of striking ships within 185 miles, Fox News reported (see GSN, Feb. 7).
These missiles are ultrasonic and can never be detected and intercepted by the enemies," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said of the weapon. "The result of these defense projects is a very long leap in maintaining the security of the country in the sky and in the sea.
Iran released a video it said depicted the launch, but the footage was impossible to confirm, according to Fox News.
"I recommend you contact Iran with questions about their weapons programs," one U.S. Defense Department spokesman said. "We are comfortable with our security posture and hope Iran will be a positive neighbor in the region."
Washington has not ruled out use of armed force against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, which is suspected of masking a weapons program. Tehran says its atomic operations have no military component and has pledged to retaliate following any attack.
An independent expert questioned the veracity of Iran's announcement.
Every now and then they get the idea of testing new missiles, and once we discovered that they had used Photoshop to show seven missiles simultaneously, said Ali Nourizadeh with the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies. Iran has also altered missiles acquired from abroad to appear domestically constructed, he said (see GSN, July 11, 2008).
An October explosion at Iran's Imam Ali Missile Base eliminated 30 to 40 percent of the Middle Eastern nation's missile capabilities, Nourizadeh asserted. The cause and ultimate impact of the incident were unclear, Fox News reported (Amy Kellogg, Fox News, Feb. 10).
Defense Minister Vahidi said these missiles have entered production




