LONDON [MENL] -- Iran has launched a missile designed to have a range of 4,000 kilometers.

Western intelligence sources said the Defense Ministry presided over the launch of an intermediate-range missile in January 2006. The sources said the launch was the first of what they termed a Shihab-4 ballistic missile based on a Soviet-origin platform.

The missile was fired and reached a distance of nearly 3,000 kilometers. The sources said the missile was destroyed in mid-flight, but the trajectory indicated that the projectile could have reached a distance of 4,000 kilometers.

"It looks like the test was meant to see if the separation and guidance systems were working," an intelligence source said.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/20...h/03_02_1.html

That is why this hostile government must be replaced with a democratic one

There's something a little odd about this story. The Shahab 4 is usually thought to have a range of around 2000km (enough to hit Israel but not enough to hit Europe). Here is another report on the same issue (scroll down or use the Find function) based on what "intelligence sources" reported to DDP, the German news agency.

Well, looks like we have a Shahab 5 in a Shahab 4 costume. It's not unusual to keep this sort of thing secret until tested.

Im sure its *just a coincidence* that Iran is tested a medium range ICBM at the same time its extracting uranium for "civilan uses" nuclear program...

Well, I wonder if the test actually took place. The reports are single-sourced, which is always faintly suspicious.

If the missile had reached the ballistic phase "in mid-flight", then debris from it should have reached places 4000 km away.

IRAN CONDUCTS SERIAL PRODUCTION OF SHIHAB-3

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Iran was said to be engaged in serial production of its intermediate-range ballistic missile.

The Iranian opposition reported that Teheran has begun serial production of its Shihab-3 missile. The opposition said that over the last year the Defense Ministry has achieved a production rate of 90 missiles per year.

Until 2004, the opposition said, Iran produced between 15-20 Shihab-3 missiles per year. They said production was limited as the Defense Ministry sought to improve the range and accuracy of the missiles.

But over the last 18 months, the opposition said, Iran achieved a breakthrough in the Shihab-3, designed to be capable of containing a nuclear warhead. The ministry was said to have extended the range of the Shihab-3 from 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers and installed a new navigation and guidance system that significantly reduced the circle of error probability.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/march/03_08_3.html

looks like the Iranians are looking for reasons to get themselves bombed...

Here is a site with lots of information:
http://www.missilethreat.com/missile...ab-5_iran.html

Also some information on the Shahab-6:
http://www.missilethreat.com/missile...ab-6_iran.html

Originally Posted by shocktroop

looks like the Iranians are looking for reasons to get themselves bombed...

Here is a site with lots of information:
http://www.missilethreat.com/missile...ab-5_iran.html

Also some information on the Shahab-6:
http://www.missilethreat.com/missile...ab-6_iran.html

LoL

dude, Shahab 6 doesnt exist AFAIK,

Shahab IV is their latest produced missile which has a long way to go to become operational

LoL

dude, Shahab 6 doesnt exist AFAIK,

Shahab IV is their latest produced missile which has a long way to go to become operational

The missile you were talking about has a reported range of 4000km, the Shahab-4 only has a range of 2000-3000km.