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IRAQ'S MISSILES Iraq has bought or developed an impressive array of tactical and medium-range ballistic missiles. These include: * Al-Abid: Tested in Dec 1989 as a satellite launcher. Would have a range of 2000km (1250 miles) if used in a surface-to-surface mode. It is a three-stage missile weighing 48 tons. The first stage has a cluster of five (Scud?) engines with a combined thrust of 70 tons. * Tammuz: Possibly another version (or use) of the Al-Abid. Has a range of 2000km (1250 miles). Was tested in Dec 1989. Warhead could be 500-1000 pounds. * Condor-II: Developed jointly with Egypt and Argentina. It would have had a range of 965km (600 miles) and carried a 1000-pound warhead, but the project was derailed by US diplomatic More : Yes/No ? pressure. Iraq, which viewed Condor as only one of several programs, appears to have allowed it to drop while using much of the German and Italian technology in the Fahd. * Al-Husayn: A modified version of the Soviet Scud rocket. The Iraqis took three Scuds, removed the fuel tanks from one and cut them in half, then used the sections to lengthen the fuel tanks of the other two Scuds (increasing fuel from 4 to 5 tons). This gave them the 620km (400 mile) range to reach Teheran, although the warhead was reduced to as little as 300 pounds. [When it first appeared, the Al-Husayn raised questions about the INF treaty (which left Soviet Scuds in Europe as legal short-range missiles). It was thought that the range increase had been achieved by less extensive modifications and that the Soviets could evade the treaty with similar modifications. The US is now satisfied that the modifications are impossible to hide.] Reports that this missile used strap-on boosters are now known to have been only speculation on the part of Western analysts. The Al-Husayn is horribly inaccurate, with a CEP of (i.e. a 50% chance of landing within) 2000m of its target. It is strongly suspected that Iraq can now manufacture the entire Al-Husayn. * Al-Abbas: This missile, an upgraded version of Al-Husayn built in Iraq, has been flight tested. It has a range of 900km (560 miles), more than enough to reach Israel. The improved range More : Yes/No ? does not bring more Iranian cities within striking distance, but does allow the missile to be launched from most of Iraq, rather than the limited area north of Al Amarah where most Al-Husayns were launched. The small 250-pound warhead would be little more than a nuisance (beyond the city block it fell into) unless it was equipped with a chemical charge. It is reportedly much more accurate than the older Al-Husayn, with a CEP of only 300m. * Fahd: Originally begun as Project 395, Fahd is a solid-fuel family of missiles. One variant has a range of 250km, another of 500km+. They will eventually replace Al-Husayn. * SS-300: A Brazilian missile with a range of only 190 miles but a huge 2200-pound warhead, enough to do serious military damage. Brazil has tested the engines of this missile; Iraq has them on order. * Scud-B: A Soviet free-flight bombardment missile with a range of 175 miles and a 2000-pound warhead. While the Iraqis have these, they are primarily used as a source of parts and technology for the improved Al-Husayn. * Frog-7: A Soviet artillery bombardment weapon with a range of only 45 miles and a payload of 1000 pounds. Huge numbers of an improved version (range 90km), built locally as the Laith, were fired at Iranian forces and border towns during the war. Iraq is developing a chemical warhead for the Laith. More : Yes/No ? * Ababil: A family of artillery rockets based on the Yugoslav M87 design. There are 50km and 100km versions. END OF FILE