Daithí
06-05-2007, 03:52 PM
WASHINGTON -- Iran has been procuring and developing a range of cruise missiles to prepare for war with the United States.
A study by the Marshall Institute asserted that Iran has made a major investment in cruise missiles in an effort to bolster military capabilities. The report, entitled "The Cruise Missile Challenge: Designing a Defense Against Asymmetric Threats," said Iran has obtained technology, expertise and components from China and Russia.
"Iran is devoting additional resources to anti-ship cruise missile development and production toward the goal of modernizing its naval forces for potential employment in possible conflicts over control of Straits of Hormuz and U.S. and Western naval access to the Gulf region in general," the report authored by Jeff Kueter and Howard Kleinberg, said.
The report said Iran has deployed such Chinese-origin cruise missiles as Silkworm, Seersucker and the advanced Saccade. The institute also cited Iranian procurement of the Russian-origin AS-15 Kent, termed a thermonuclear-warhead-capable strategic cruise missile. The Kent was said to have been exported by Ukraine.
A study by the Marshall Institute asserted that Iran has made a major investment in cruise missiles in an effort to bolster military capabilities. The report, entitled "The Cruise Missile Challenge: Designing a Defense Against Asymmetric Threats," said Iran has obtained technology, expertise and components from China and Russia.
"Iran is devoting additional resources to anti-ship cruise missile development and production toward the goal of modernizing its naval forces for potential employment in possible conflicts over control of Straits of Hormuz and U.S. and Western naval access to the Gulf region in general," the report authored by Jeff Kueter and Howard Kleinberg, said.
The report said Iran has deployed such Chinese-origin cruise missiles as Silkworm, Seersucker and the advanced Saccade. The institute also cited Iranian procurement of the Russian-origin AS-15 Kent, termed a thermonuclear-warhead-capable strategic cruise missile. The Kent was said to have been exported by Ukraine.