The DGA orders 116 VBCI Armoured Vehicles
On 5th December 2008, the DGA (French armament procurement agency) issued a purchase order to Nexter for the delivery of 116 infantry combat armoured vehicles (VBCI). This order brings the total number of vehicles ordered to date to 298 VBCIs. The DGA has accepted the first 41 vehicles in accordance with the initial schedule. The VBCI is a fully developed product that meets current operational requirements in terms of projection capability, protection and growth potential. This 8 X 8 off-road armoured vehicle is designed to replace the AMX10P, and will offer armed forces a very significantly uprated performance.
In the VCI (infantry combat) version, it can carry 11 soldiers into the combat zone. The VBCI is the right compromise between payload capability and fire power. It has a 25 mm gun and a 7.62 mm MG and weighs around 25 tons in operational configuration. The VBCI has a maximum speed of over 60 mph and will be air-transportable in the future A400M transport aircraft. The VBCI provides a real “life base” for the infantry soldier, offering a very high level of protection, including an NBC protection system. It is equipped with armour that resists medium calibre fire, shell shrapnel and improvised explosive devices (IED), together with a very high degree of protection against mines and an anti-missile infra-red decoy system. This protection will soon be reinforced by active protection (hard kill) against RPG rockets, HE shells and anti-tank missiles.
The VBCI exists in a command post version (VPC) and infantry combat version (VCI). The vehicle design offers considerable growth potential, whether in terms of integrated systems, protection or motorization. The VBCI is produced by a group of companies, formed by Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Défense.
Photo: NEXTER
The upgrading of 108 AMX 10P armored vehicles is complete
Versailles Satory, December 17th, 2008 - Nexter has just finished upgrading 108 AMX 10P tracked armored personnel carriers ahead of the initial schedule. This upgrade was carried out in six French Army infantry regiments. The last armored vehicle was returned to the 92nd Clermont-Ferrand Infantry Regiment on October 23, 2008. As a reminder, the DGA French procurement agency had placed an order with Nexter in September 2005, notably concerning the upgrade of these 108 armored vehicles and the delivery of 258 gearboxes. This operation increased the vehicle's protection with the installation of add-on armor. Its mobility was increased by fitting new suspension systems and a strengthened gearbox.
Photo: NEXTER
Iran’s Baked Clay Option - December 2008
On 8 December Russian press agencies reported large-scale manoeuvres of the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Oman with approximately 60 naval vessel participating. The Union-87 manoeuvre was conducted from 2 December to 8 December and saw the launch of a Nasr-2 missile on 6 December. The missile, Nasr stands for victory, hit a target 30 kilometres away and the test was declared as a complete success. The FL-9 Nasr, also known as the JJ/TL-6 B Nasr, is a radar-guided anti-ship missile allegedly developed in collaboration with the People’s Republic of China.
Already on Monday, 10 November Iran had successfully launched a Samen missile during an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) military drill in the border city of Marivan in the Western province of Kurdistan near the Iraq border. However, American experts were quoted in the Russian press, that the Samen may not be an indigenous system but only a copy of the Shahab 3. The Shahab has received various designations numbering from one to six. While the last number was only mentioned in 2003 and never confirmed, the early numbers represent further developed SCUD ballistic missile, and starting with number three are launched from a semi-trailer with a Mercedes-Benz (6x6) acting as prime mover. Iran's advanced Shahab-3 missiles, equipped with a one-ton conventional warhead, are capable of hitting targets within a 2,000-kilometer range and could in theory carry a nuclear warhead with a CEP of 250 metres as mentioned for the D-version.
On Wednesday, two days after the launch of the Samen missile, Iran also launched another missile, the Sajjil (Baked Clay) and CNN quoted Iran’s Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammed Njjar as saying on state television that “the Sajjil was a high-speed missile manufactured at the Iranian Aerospace department of the Defense Ministry. He said it had a range of about 1,200 miles, which could easily reach arch-foe Israel and even travel as far as southeastern Europe…This missile is a two-stage weapon with two combined solid-fuel engines and has an extraordinary high capability..”
Duncan Lennox, a British weapons expert, was quotes as saying that the missile (the Sajjil) seemed to resemble an earlier one called the Ashoura with the claimed ability to strike targets in Israel or the Persian Gulf region.
During the latest month’ Iran follows a policy of intimidation by testing a row of new missiles and firing dozens of short range ballistic missile during large-scale exercises. In parallel Iran warned that in case of coming under attack by either the US or Israel, it will target 32 American bases in the Middle East as well as the heart of Israel. In early June Israel has conducted a massive air manoeuvre over the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece, which according to Pentagon officials, appeared to be a 'dress rehearsal' for a potential bombing attack on Iranian nuclear facilities involving about 100 Israeli F-16I and F-15I fighter aircraft. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said that Tel Aviv is 'convinced that Iran continues to try to build a nuclear weapon' and adding shortly after "We don't rule out any option. We recommend others don't rule out any option either."
Is the Russian Arsenal in fact dwindling?
The nuclear arsenal in Russia is ageing and instead of recent procurement and upgrade initiatives the capability of the Russian nuclear shield has never been lower than now. Despite repeated efforts to modernise its nuclear missile arsenal the Russian Federation is in fact loosing nuclear capabilities through diminishing numbers and negligence of the industrial sector writes Stefan Marx.
On 26 November a RS-24 MBR (Mej-kontinentalnaya Ballistisheskaya Raketa) Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) test was conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and shortly after the missile hit the Kura testing site, 6000 kilometres away on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Pacific. The launch was the third within the last two years and was aimed partly at testing how the warheads of the MIRV-capable missile would separate. The test was declared as a full success.
Russia is struggling to retain and maintain its nuclear arsenal to keep its status as a world player with a global role and influence. After the Cold War and its aftermath Russia as a modern state has developed a stabile society though without democratic institutions beyond face-saving formal structures. Prime Minister Putin is looking for a longer term by adjusting the Russian constitution and in fact may never had the intention to give free rein to a democratic successor.
On 7 December 2007 first Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov noted that Russia needs nuclear parity with the United States. Russian energy and power politics strongly reminded the free world to the Cold War behaviour of the Soviet Union and are described as Medvedjev Doctrine, made only possible through the export of oil and weaponry. In a row of missile tests and corresponding announcements Russian authorities have repeatedly revealed their determination to condemn and to contain the American-lead missile defence initiative in Europe. However, the negligence of the industrial sector and the loss of industrial capacities concerning rocket and missile technology to former territories of the Soviet Union which are today no part of the Russian Federation have seen specialist and scientists leaving either Russia or the military sector in Russia. Not forgotten are the times that Sukhoi employees were paid with Chinese cigarette lighters in the mid 1990s. The general situation is reflected by malfunctioning missiles and endless delays in the development of strategic weapon systems. Only through the Chinese and Indian orders a total collapse could be avoided, corresponding to exports worth US$7 billion in 2007 alone.
Western experts are describing the Russian arms built-up as a mishandled effort, in effect just keeping pace in modernisation but actually reducing numbers and overall capabilities. The efficiency of the military-industrial complex is in doubt, because for example costs for the Topol-M have been doubled in recent years. In general the Russian capabilities to develop new strategic weapon systems are probably gone. 70 per cent of the operational land-based ICBM force is either obsolete or even obsolescent. Every year only nine Topol-M missiles are being produced, while dozens of SS-18 Satan are withdrawn from service. Concerning numbers Russia is disarming itself. Concerning high-technology and advanced – standing for strategic – weapon systems, Russia is falling behind with the distance to the lead player, the U.S. growing.
The commander-in-chief of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), which consist of the RVSN with two missile armies, the 27th Guards Missile Army with HQ in Vladimir, and the 31st Missile Army with HQ in Orenburg, and strategic units of the VVS as well as the VMF, is Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov. His announcements have been a wake-up call for western defence specialists.
Backgrounder:
The Russian nuclear triad consists of the following systems:
Ø R-36M/M2 or RS-20 (SS-18 Satan): 86 silo-based missiles with 860 warheads, being withdrawn
Ø UR-100 or RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto): 100 liquid-fuelled silo-based missiles with 600 warheads
At 13.10 Moscow time on 22 October 2008 the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) have successfully launched a liquid-fuelled RS-18 ICBM from the Baikonur space airfield in Kazakhstan. RS-18 missile complexes are currently in service with the SMF as part of the Tatishchevsk and Kozelsk missile formations. The launch confirmed the decision to extend the service life of RS-18 missile complex to 31 years. The missile has a combat range exceeding 9,600 km and is considered to be highly reliable.
Ø RS-12M Topol (SS-25 Sickle): 270 land-mobile missiles with single warhead, to be replaced by MIRV warheads
On 8 December 2007 Russian Rocket Forces spokesman Aleksandr Vovk revealed that the Russian military successfully test-fired a RS-12M Topol ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar firing range in southern Russia the same day. Allegedly the test involved new, unspecified equipment that Moscow hopes will render Washington's missile-defence systems useless.
The RS-12M Topol is a land-mobile ballistic missile with the last test conducted on Sunday, the 9 October 2008 at 0723 GMT in drizzling rain from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Half an hour later the missile hit the Kura testing site, 6000 kilometres away on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Pacific. The launch was aimed partly at testing how the rocket, which was actually 21 years old and overhauled by the manufacturer, would fire after having their operational life extended past the 10-year guaranteed operational life set by the manufacturer. "An extension of the operational life of the Topol rocket complexes ... will allow the systematic replacement of rockets being taken out of use with new generation rockets without any peak load on the military budget," Interfax news agency quoted Alexander Vovk, an adviser to the head of Russia's strategic forces. And President Dmitry Medvedev who attended the later launch said: "We will continue to commission new types of weapons, but we will also continue testing the ones we have now."
Ø RS-12M2 Topol-M (SS-27): 48 silo-based missiles with single warheads
The Topol-M, which will become the mainstay of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) in the near future can be mobile or silo-based and has a range of 10,000 kilometres. The missile was especially designed to overcome the American missile-defence systems.
Ø RT-12M2 Topol-M: 7-9 land-mobile missiles with 3x 150-200 kT warheads (MIRV) each.
On 16 December 2007, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces said in a statement that three additional Topol-M, truck-mounted missile units were put into position near Teikovo in Ivanovo Oblast. The first regiment was declared operational in December 2006 and a total of 69 RT-12M2 have been ordered to replace the RS-12M and R-36M systems.
Ø The first successful launch of the new RS-24 ICBM took place on 29 May 2007, followed by a second test on 25 December 2007. The second missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Oblast and hit its target at the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East. Though the RS designations indicate a silo-launched missile system the test was actually conducted from a modified Topol TEL. The RS-24 is a MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile that is developed to succeed the RS-18 (SS-19 / Stilleto) and RS-20 (SS-20 / Saber) missiles. According to commander-in-chief of the RVSN Colonel General Nikolai Solovtsov the MIRV design of the RS-24, which will be operational in 2009, has been designed to overcome ballistic missile defences. A third test was conducted on 26 November as mentioned above.
The missile has been developed by the Moscovskiy Institut Teplotekhnika (Moscow Institute of Thermo-technology) and incorporates technology also used within the Topol-M and Bulava missiles. It is described as a completely new complex. From 2009 the RS-24 will replace RS-18 and RS-20 ICBMs, while supplementing the RS-12M2 Toplol-M.
Ø In August 2007 Russia announced the decision to begin series production of the controversial Bulava-M (SS-N-X-30) submarine-launched long-range nuclear missile (SLBM). The Bulava missile can carry six independently targeted nuclear warheads and has a range of up to 8,000 kilometres, though earlier figures mentioned 10 warheads and a range of 10,000 km. Bulava is in fact a naval version of the land-based Topol-M, that Putin says will be capable of penetrating any missile defences. The Bulava has a checkered history of launch failures. These failures have been traced back to the lack of experience of the Moscow Heat Engineering Research Institute, a design bureau in the first case familiar with land based missile systems, resulting in a two-year delay of the programme. During a naval exercise on 18 September 2008 a Bulava missile was launched from the trials submarine Dimitriy Donskoy and successfully flew from the White Sea right across Russia to the Far East. However, Russian press reports noticed problems with the re-entry vehicles allegedly failing to separate from the bus.
12 Bulava missiles will be carried by a modified Project 941 SSBN as well as the Project 955 Borey-class boats, of which up to 9 boats are expected to be built in the long term. The first of these submarines, the Yury Dolgoruky, was launched in February 2008, six years after its original scheduled date. The fourth boat of the Borey-class will be of an improved design. Schedule and numbers are constantly changing reflecting the mixed results of the various phases and progress in development.
Ø On 11 October 2008, only two days after a RS-12M Topol missile was also test-fired, the Russian nuclear submarine “Tula” also successfully test-fired two R-29RMU Sineva missiles, an advanced SS-N-23 Skiff (R-29RM Shetal) design during a military exercise of the Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea.
"For the first time in the history of the Russian navy, the
target of the missile was in an equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean rather
than the Kura testing ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula, a navy spokesman
said according to
Russian News Agency Ria Novosti.
In November 2008 a senior defence official has been quoted as saying that Russia hopes to deploy a new submarine-launched nuclear missile next year, underlining Moscow's determination to upgrade its nuclear strike forces.
On 2 November 2008 Colonel General Vladimir Popovkin, head of armaments for the Russian armed forces, who is also deputy defense minister, was quoted that he hopes the armed forces would accept the Bulava for service next year.
The A1 Galosh ABM network around Moscow has been extensively modernised, while the nuclear warheads of the Gorgon (Sh-11) missiles (36) and Gazelle (Sh-8) missiles (64) have been withdrawn. At the same time the network has been strengthened by the deployment of S-300PMU-2 Favorit (SA-20 Grumble-C), S-300V (Antey 2500) and S-400 Triumph (SA-21 Growler) missile batteries.
At the time of writing Russia plans to modernize its nuclear-capable Tupolev TU-160 supersonic strategic bombers.
The air-launched Kh-101/Kh-102 family of long-range cruise missiles is under development to replace the Kh-55/Kh-555 missiles.
After abandonment of the START II Treaty the removal of MIRV warheads from existing ICBMs is no longer relevant, though the total number of warheads is limited by the Moscow Treaty signed between the Russian Federation and the US since 2002. Thus, by December 2012 the total number of warheads will progressively decline to between 1,700 and 2,200, while the number of strategic delivery systems is not restricted anymore. Plans see 50 per cent of the Russian nuclear force to be land-based system, while 25 per cent will be sea- and air-based, respectively at this time.
After the
Georgian adventure President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin have both pledged to extend Russia's recent military build-up with
extra funds to buy new, high-tech arms. Upgrading Russia's strategic nuclear
forces remain a top priority because they are the cornerstone of Russia’s
defences.
"As long as we are a nuclear
power, no hotheads will venture to attack our country," Popovkin was quoted.
While on the international stage saber rattling has replaced co-operation with neighbours as well as the US and the EU, technical capabilities could be (allegedly) retained but capacities are in jeopardy because underpaid specialists are leaving the country or the military-industrial sector.
Especially members of the former Warsaw Pact are reminding the European Union, NATO and the U.S. not to neglect or forget the existence of traditional threats. Relations with Russia have to be re-evaluated more than one of the speakers during the 7th Congress on European Security and Defence declared his or her concerns. Earlier and short after the crisis in Georgia, the Estonian President Toomas Ilves had demanded that NATO should concretize plans for the Baltic region finally. The announcement to deploy Iskander (SS-26 Stone) missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave was a harsh reminder to older, well known and obviously unchanged facts as De Gaulle once complained: “One time the Russians will understand that they belong to Europe.”
“We will strengthen our military capability, we will adopt new types of weapons, but we will continue to test the traditional ballistic missiles we have in service,” Medvedev said and confirmed growing corncerns.
MIRV – Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle
RVSN – Raketniye Voiska Strategicheskovo Naznacheniya or Strategic Rocket Forces
SLBM – Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
TEL – Transporter-Erector-Launcher
VMF – Voyenno-MorskoyFflot or Russian Naval Forces
VVS - Vozduyushno Voorezhenie Sily or Military Air Forces
ND SatCom Introduces
Military Tactical Communications Terminal
Plano, Texas USA, November 18, 2008 - ND SatCom, an SES ASTRA company, has released a full-featured, trailer-mounted, military tactical terminal which is HMMWV-towable and supports communication via satellite or over troposcatter Beyond-Line-of-Site links. The MTT2450 terminal is exhibited at ND SatCom’s booth 1751 at MILCOM from November 18-19, 2008 in San Diego.
Utilizing the Army-approved Light Tactical Trailer (LTT) as the baseline platform, the MTT2450 terminal combines a 2.4-meter antenna with an on-board diesel generator, unique power distribution/protection system and environmentally protected electronics to provide a robust, autonomous communications platform which can be quickly and easily deployed in virtually any location. The terminal has been tested and certified for road, rail and lift transport in accordance with MIL STD 810 F.
The MTT2450 terminal supports satellite communications at C-, X-, Ku- and Ka-Band frequencies, as well as troposcatter communications in the 4.4-5.0 GHz and 14.9-15.4 GHz bands. Terminals may be configured with common SCPC-type modems or with SkyWAN® full-mesh capability. A supervisory monitor and control system provides for simplified deployment and link acquisition, as well as holistic terminal control and health monitoring via remote access.
General
Dynamics European Land Systems erhielt einen Auftrag für 198 geschützte
Führungs- und Funktionsfahrzeuge vom Typ EAGLE IV 4x4 für die Bundeswehr.
Zusätzlich zum Auftrag vom 16. Juli 2008 über eine erste Lieferung von 25
Fahrzeugen beinhaltet der nun unterzeichnete Vertrag die Lieferung von
weiteren 173 Fahrzeugen sowie den Aufbau der Logistik- und
Serviceunterstützung. Der Vertrag hat einen Gesamtwert von 105,7 Millionen
Euro. Die nun bestellten 198 EAGLE IV Fahrzeuge werden in Kreuzlingen,
Schweiz, und in Kaiserlautern, Deutschland, gefertigt. Die Lieferungen
beginnen noch dieses Jahr und dauern bis 2010.
Im Rahmen des Programms GFF Klasse 2 – Geschützte Führungs- und
Funktionsfahrzeuge – werden zahlreiche ungeschützte Fahrzeuge der Bundeswehr
durch EAGLE IV ersetzt, um die Sicherheit der deutschen Soldaten in
aktuellen Auslandseinsätzen zu erhöhen. Zum Selbstschutz sind alle
Fahrzeuge für die Installation einer fernbedienbaren Waffenstation vom Typ
KMW FLW 100/200 ausgelegt. Die Bundeswehr wird den Eagle IV in mindestens
drei Versionen für die Funktionen Führung, Transport und Verwundetenbergung
einführen.
Dank der hohen logistischen Gleichheit zwischen EAGLE IV und dem als RLS „YAK“ bereits erfolgreich bei der Bundeswehr eingeführten DURO IIIP können die gesamten Lebenswegkosten bei einem Flotteneinsatz tief gehalten werden.
(Photo: GDELS)
Multipurpose Carrier Fennek for German Engineers
The first four Fennek combat engineer variants have been delivered to the German engineer corps on 19 September 2008 in Münchsmünster near Ingolstadt during the “Day of the Engineers”. Leading systems supplier for the Fennek is Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). Described as command, control and reconnaissance assets (Führungs- und Erkundungsfahrzeuge) for engineer tasks all four vehicles went to the 550th Combat Engineer Battalion of Immendingen, which is part of the Franco-German Brigade, representing the full set for this formation. One day after the vehicles took part in the information and familiarisation exercise (Informations- und Lehrübung - ILÜ) “Hamburg”, an event every year of smaller size due to budgetary restrictions, where the vehicles crossed the Danube while negotiating a ferry consisting of three M3 amphibious vehicles. In total the German Army will receive 24 such vehicles following the original contract of 2001.
Powered by a Deutz BF6M 2013C 6-cylinder turbocharged intercooled diesel engine developing 240 hp, and coupled to an automatic six speed transmission with torque converter and lock up the multi-purpose carrier Fennek has four-wheel drive working via a H drive train, which results into a low ground clearance and signature.
The combat engineer variant is armed with an automatic grenade launcher but not with the observation and surveillance system of the reconnaissance and artillery variants. As reconnaissance asset the combat engineer Fennek supplements the similarly equipped Wiesel 2 also operating within the German combat engineer troops. Within the vehicle the arrangement of the computer socket has been altered as well as the layout of the inner space to give more stowage space in general. In comparison to the other variants a smaller 200-litre fuel tank gives a marginally smaller range of 850 km on roads and 400 km off-road. Maximum road speed is 112 km/h forward and via rear camera up to 23 km in reverse. Fording is one metre. The crew consists of driver, commander and radio operator.
At the same time the 8th Reconnaissance Battalion of Freyung, part of the 12th Tank Brigade of Amberg, fired the last life shot on 19 September 2008 with a Luchs armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The Luchs is leaving active service within the German Army and the vehicles will be withdrawn over the next years until 2015 and replaced by a mere 178 Fennek reconnaissance vehicles, only armed with a 40 mm AGL. Thus the replacement vehicles will not be able to enforce reconnaissance missions or stand up against armoured assets. In comparison to the 408 Luchs, armed with a 20 mm BMK, the numbers reflect the changed circumstances of an army in transition. But also remember the year of 2006 as the first two Fenneks sent to Afghanistan were put out of action nearly immediately, though luckily without the loss of life. Tactics have to follow new hardware, and vice versa.
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Combat engineer Fennek crossing the Danube river by negotiating an M3 bridge during ILÜ Hamburg in September 2008.
German Engineer Corps faces capability Gaps
With the declaration of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) that the Leopard 1 chassis can not be longer supported and existing stocks of spare parts are being used up, the German Corps of Engineers has been thrown into a precarious situation, because several legacy systems are based on the Leopard 1 chassis and facing block obsolescence and have to be replaced. One system to be replaced soon is the Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs (Badger AEV), while the other is the Biber AVLB (see below). The supportability issue of the Leopard 1 chassis in general hits the complete Leopard user community, with some corresponding vehicles converted or upgraded only recently.
The life span of the Dachs AEV is approaching its end within the next ten years. The vehicle has to be replaced within that period and no replacement system is either in development or available at the market within the specific requirements of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Openly admitted, nobody has thought of a replacement at all in the recent past.
The always mentioned RUFUS (Rheinmetall Universalfahrzeug Für Unterstützungssysteme) medium support vehicle, an acknowledged requirement within the 30-tonne class and released for development for the German Engineer Corps, is far smaller and could only supplement a Dachs-like vehicle. A Kodiak AEV solution would be too heavy for the transport within a A400M, the virtual transport aircraft for Germany in particular and Europe in general (though South Africa has entered the fray, too). The RUFUS would fit into an A400M, as well as the PUMA AIFV. Adapted to a bridging role the RUFUS AEV could carry two MLC 45 bridges each 22 m long, though long enough but far too light to replace the aging Biber.
Thus, the Dachs 2 at the time of writing represents a name only solution with the corresponding concept in development, standing for not in existence at all. In the end it may not to be possible to develop and procure two different combat engineer vehicles within the scheduled timeframe and within the available budget.
Again - Iskander for Syria? 27 August 2008
The Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to visit Russian President Dmitry Medvedev after reports that Russia is considering to deliver advanced missile systems to Syria. Though, the exact schedule of such a visit is not agreed to yet, it is expected to be in the first half of September.
Olmert, who plans to resign over a corruption scandal, announced his intention that he would try to block such a deal if confirmed. This reflects a similar situation in 2004, as Putin under Israeli and U.S. pressure cancelled a contract with Syria about the delivery of Iskander-E rockets with a range of 280 km. Even with the shorter range of the export Iskander-E most of Israel’s territory would have been within range of such an asset deployed in Syria.
In November 2007 modernised Iskander missiles with a range of up to 500 km or more were reported to be under consideration for sales to Belarus. Under standing treaty limits missiles or rockets with a range of more than 300 km and with a warhead heavier than 500 kg would be in violation with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and are not covered by the Missile technology Control Regime (MTCR), of which Russia is a member. Experts considered the alleged sale to Belarus only as a diversion to coming or further sales into the Middle East. And just before his tragic and mysterious death, Ivan Safronov, a military correspondent of Kommersant, had received confirming reports from the military-industrial complex about plans for the delivery of advanced Russian armaments via Belarus, with Iskander-E rockets being among them. An upgraded version of the Iskander rocket is scheduled to be operational in 2009. Such rockets would have a range of 500 km just as the missiles mentioned to be for Belarus. Rumours, though unconfirmed, again confirmed Syria and Iran as potential customers for the upgraded rockets.
At the end of August 2008 Russia’s Interfax has quoted diplomatic sources hinting to complex deals in preparation with Syria. However, such deals would only include anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems. Reports that President Bashar Hafez al-Assad had declared his readiness to host Russian Iskander missiles were denied by Syria’s state news agency, following talks on 21 August between Medvedev and al-Assad. It has been stated, that the Iskander missiles under consideration would be designed to evade antimissile systems recently made operational by the IDF.
The U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood commented that the United States was "obviously very concerned about reports that Russia may be providing weapons systems to Syria." The Russian reply was that any arms sold to Syria are “defensive.” New advanced Russian medium-range or intermediate-range rockets in Syria would add to the already precarious situation in the region after an Iranian rocket had put the home-grown dummy satellite into orbit on a domestically made Safir-e Omid (Hope Envoy) rocket for the first time, as conducted and announced by Iran on 17 August 2008. Iran says it has an indigenous missile capability with a range of 2,000 kilometres, which would put Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf within range. However, experts have announced their doubts and described Iranian claims as exaggerated, the capability gap to an assumed nuclear-tipped operational rocket system is shrinking.
Israel’s relations to Russia have already been hit by the delivery of military equipment and training support to Georgia in recent months.
AMZ TUR 
AMZ ZUBR
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(Phot: NEXTER)
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