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Iran Test-Fires Improved Extended-Range Missile

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  • Iran Test-Fires Improved Extended-Range Missile

    Iran Test-Fires Improved Extended-Range Missile - Defense News
    Iran Test-Fires Improved Extended-Range Missile
    AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
    Published: 16 Dec 2009 06:21
    Print Print | Print Email

    TEHRAN - A defiant Iran has test-fired an improved version of its Sejil 2 medium-range missile, which it says can reach targets inside Israel, prompting a sharp rebuke from Britain.

    "It hit the defined target," state television reported without giving further details.
    Related Topics

    * Middle East & Africa
    * Air Warfare

    The two-stage Sejil, powered by solid fuel, launched Dec. 16 is capable according to Iran of traveling 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers), which would put Israel, most Arab states and parts of Europe, including much of Turkey, within range.

    British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the test of the missile was a matter of "serious concern" and makes the case for "moving further on sanctions."

    Brown is in Copenhagen for the U.N. climate summit, where he discussed the development with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

    "I have expressed to him and he has also expressed concern about the test of a long-range missile by Iran," Brown said, according to his Downing Street office in London.

    "This is a matter of serious concern to the international community and it does make the case for us moving further on sanctions.

    "We will treat this with the seriousness it deserves."

    Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the test was aimed at bolstering Iran's defenses and insisted missiles would not be used for offensive purposes.

    "The missile test that we witness today is one ring of our defense capability chain in line with increasing the armed forces' deterrent power," Vahidi was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

    Iran's missile capability, he added, is "merely defensive and for peace, stability and calm in the region and will not be used against any country."

    Vahidi said the latest version of the Sejil was "impossible to destroy" due to the "very high speed" at which it hits the ground. It also has anti-radar capability.

    The United States and its regional ally Israel have not ruled out a military option to stop Tehran's controversial nuclear drive.

    Iran has in the past threatened to target U.S. bases in the region and to block the strategic Gulf Strait of Hormuz waterway for oil tankers if its nuclear sites are attacked.

    Iran is under three sets of U.N. sanctions for its refusal to suspend enrichment and risks a further round after rejecting a U.N.-brokered deal to send its low enriched uranium abroad to be further refined into fuel for a research reactor.

    Enrichment lies at the heart of fears over Iran's controversial atomic work as the process to make nuclear fuel can also be used to make the fissile core of an atom bomb in much higher purifications.

    Further pressuring Iran, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved sanctions legislation Dec. 15 aimed at forcing Iran to freeze the program by depriving it of petrol.

    The measure would empower U.S. President Barack Obama to effectively block firms that supply Iran with refined petroleum products, or the ability to import or produce them at home, from doing business in the United States.

    In late September, Iran test-fired the previous version of Sejil 2 (Lethal Stone), along with another similar-range weapon, the Shahab-3, and a host of shorter-range missiles as part of a military exercise.

    The tests, which came ahead of key talks between Iran and six world powers in Geneva, drew the ire of the West, with Washington describing them as "provocative."
    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

  • #2
    Here are the pictures:


    Comment


    • #3
      By the looks of it they've done some refining of the guidance system.
      In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

      Leibniz

      Comment


      • #4
        Here are the different missiles of the recent time:

        Shahab-3A:

        Shahab-3B:

        Sejjil-1:

        Sejjil-2: (the one tested in May 2009)

        Upgraded Version of Sejjil-2 tested today:

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Parihaka View Post
          By the looks of it they've done some refining of the guidance system.
          More importantly its solid fuel. Ignoring the clap trap about it being too fast to intercept or stealth its neither, solid fuel means the time from mission orders to launch is minutes not hours. The unit also needs fewer support vehicles making it easier to hide among civilian traffic and its more mobile.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by zraver View Post
            More importantly its solid fuel. Ignoring the clap trap about it being too fast to intercept or stealth its neither, solid fuel means the time from mission orders to launch is minutes not hours. The unit also needs fewer support vehicles making it easier to hide among civilian traffic and its more mobile.
            They launched the same configuration of solid fuel about 4 months ago, the changes to the guidance system from that one are what I was referring to.
            In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

            Leibniz

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Parihaka View Post
              They launched the same configuration of solid fuel about 4 months ago, the changes to the guidance system from that one are what I was referring to.
              very true but as the cursed bulava program shows solid fuel rockets are not kink free. If Iran masters the technology and can put the system into serial production it poses a considerable threat

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by zraver View Post
                very true but as the cursed bulava program shows solid fuel rockets are not kink free. If Iran masters the technology and can put the system into serial production it poses a considerable threat
                Sejjil-1 is already in production, they said they were going to make 70 a year as of 2008, I don't know about the Sejjil-2 though.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Also this latested one seems to have a narrower base than one launched in May .. .. or is it my eyes?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Zinja View Post
                    Also this latested one seems to have a narrower base than one launched in May .. .. or is it my eyes?
                    No, you're seeing straight. That is the refinements in the guidance system.
                    In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                    Leibniz

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Parihaka View Post
                      No, you're seeing straight. That is the refinements in the guidance system.
                      Then maybe its not just chest thumping after all, its a genuine advance. All US officials seem to be dismissing it though.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Zinja View Post
                        Then maybe its not just chest thumping after all, its a genuine advance. All US officials seem to be dismissing it though.
                        In and of itself it this launch isn't a great advance. The last launch was a test of the mating of a couple of systems which was IMO rather clever and sidestepped a number of issues preventing the Iranians from developing a threat. This launch was a test of the refinement of that approach.
                        I'd be surprised if this went into mass production because it's size means it can't deliver a very big payload and it's expensive to build.
                        What it does mean is that they can now go ahead with developing much larger tubes capable of delivering a much larger payload.
                        In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                        Leibniz

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Ive got to hand it to the Iranians. Although most of their defence forces are a heap of rubbish their missile capabilities are nothing short of ingenious considering how little real help they have had (from countries with actually succesfull missile programs, North Korea doesnt count)
                          The best part of repentance is the sin

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by chakos View Post
                            Ive got to hand it to the Iranians. Although most of their defence forces are a heap of rubbish their missile capabilities are nothing short of ingenious considering how little real help they have had (from countries with actually succesfull missile programs, North Korea doesnt count)
                            North Korea only helped at the beginning with the basic designs, today Iran has long surpassed North Korea, there is not much they can do for us anymore.
                            The rest of Iran's defence industry is coming along well, too, but the missiles have the priority, that's why they are the most advanced.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Kermanshahi View Post
                              North Korea only helped at the beginning with the basic designs, today Iran has long surpassed North Korea, there is not much they can do for us anymore.
                              The rest of Iran's defence industry is coming along well, too, but the missiles have the priority, that's why they are the most advanced.
                              Understandable really, it's their last best hope. Can't hope to match the west in terms of conventional army, so missiles mounting whatever warhead offer the best affordable deterent.
                              In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                              Leibniz

                              Comment

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