Iran Makes Ballistic Missile Breakthrough.....Daily Star

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://wwwl.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


1//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, June 01, 2005

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=15536



IRAN MAKES BALLISTIC MISSILE BREAKTHROUGH AMID GROWING ISRAELI CONCERNS

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

TEHRAN: Iran announced yesterday it had successfully tested a new solid fuel motor for its arsenal of medium-range ballistic missiles, a technological breakthrough that sparked fresh alarm in Israel.



"The test was a success," Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said on state television.



"When you fill a missile with liquid fuel, you have to use it quickly. With solid fuel, a missile can be stored for years. And in addition, it makes the missile more accurate and cheaper too."



A Defense Ministry statement said the new technology could be built into Iran's Shahab-3 missiles - which the Islamic Republic says already has a range of at least 2,000 kilometers.



The country has recently upgraded the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, a single-stage device believed to be based on a North Korean design. Its range means that Israel and U.S. bases in the region are well within range.



But up until now it has been based on liquid-fuel technology.



Military experts contacted by AFP said the test, if indeed successful, would signify an important breakthrough for the Islamic Republic's missile program.

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[whistle]

1. A nuclear weapon on top of the Iranian missile aimed at Israel....

...what will Bush be proposing next?

[still_one]

2. well, this is from an Israelli source which contradicts that

DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources contradict Iran’s claim of successful test of Shehab-3, 2,000-km range ballistic missile. They say all that was tested was a missile engine. Before actually mounting it on a solid fuel-powered missile, Iran has many technical problems to overcome

[jedr]

3. damn ,threaten a country with an invasion;

and they defend themselves...shock and awe is great diplomacy

[acmejack]

4. Solid fuel presents it's own special problems.

Not the least of which is it's instability and lack of tolerance to temperature variations.