Iran Makes Ballistic Missile Breakthrough

Sunday Times (ZA):

Iran announced that it had successfully tested a new solid fuel missile motor for its arsenal of medium-range ballistic missiles, a breakthrough likely to cause fresh international concern. "It was a test of a motor and not a test of a missile," a defence ministry official said, clarifying earlier reports in the Iranian press that a missile itself had been tested.

The official quoted Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani as saying that "the more durable fuel allows the missile to be more accurate", and said the new technology could be built into Iran's Shahab-3 missiles. READ MORE

Iran says the Shahab-3 has a range of at least 2,000 kilometres - meaning that arch-enemy Israel and US bases in the region are well within range.

According to Shamkhani, Sunday's test of the missile motor was "100 percent successful".

Military experts said the test, if true, was important for two reasons.

Firstly, in order to develop a missile with a range greater than 2,000 kilometres - in effect a two-stage rocket - a country needs to master the more complex solid fuel technology. This is because solid fuel is more stable inside the missile.

Secondly, solid fuel missiles of all ranges are more mobile and can be deployed far more quickly than liquid fuel devices, which need to be filled up immediately before they are launched.

Iran has recently upgraded the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, believed to be based on a North Korean design. Up to now it has been based on liquid-fuel technology.

Tehran's rapid progress on its ballistic missile programme is a major cause for concern among the international community, particularly Israel, which is already alarmed over Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran insists it is not seeking to develop missiles with a longer range, and has denied allegations that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The country says its missiles will only be tipped with conventional warheads.

But as one Western diplomat in Iran has remarked, "why develop a Rolls Royce to only deliver a pizza?"