Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Ballistic Missile Launches 2006


Evidently, a fair amount of research continues into rocket science. Last year eight countries test fired ballistic missiles. According to the article exerpt below, from a mailing by the Federation of American Scientists, these test firings were connected with nuclear weapons delivery development.

The FAS website is often quite interesting.


from FAS.org:

Nuclear Missile Testing Galore

North Korea may have gotten all the attention, but all the nuclear weapon states were busy flight-testing ballistic missiles for their nuclear weapons during 2006. According to a preliminary count, eight countries launched more than 26 ballistic missiles of 23 types in 24 different events.

Unlike the failed North Korean Taepo Dong 2 launch, most other ballistic missile tests were successful. Russia and India also experienced missile failures, but the United States demonstrated a very reliable capability including the 117th consecutive successful launch of the Trident II D5 sea-launched ballistic missile.

The ballistic missile flight tests involved weapons ranging from 10-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles down to single-warhead short-range ballistic missiles. Most of the flight tests, however, involved long-range ballistic missiles and the United States, Russia and France also launched sea-launched ballistic missiles (see table below).

Ballistic Missile Tests 2006*

Date

Missile

Remarks

China









5 Sep

1 DF-31 ICBM

From Wuzhai, impact in Takla Makan Desert.

France



9 Nov

1 M51 SLBM

From Biscarosse (CELM facility), impact in South Atlantic.

India



13 Jun

1 Prithvi I SRBM

From Chandipur, impact in Indian Ocean.

9 Jul

1 Agni III IRBM

From Chandipur. Failed.

20 Nov

1 Prithvi I SRBM

From Chandipur, impact in Indian Ocean.

Iran**



23 May

1 Shahab 3D MRBM

From Emamshahr.

3 Nov

1 Shahab 3 MRBM, as well as "dozens" of Shahab 2, Scud B and other SRBMs

Part of the Great Prophet 2 exercise.

North Korea***


4 Jul

1 Taepo Dong 2 ICBM and 6 Scud C and Rodong SRBMs

From Musudan-ri near Kalmo. ICBM failed.

Pakistan



16 Nov

1 Ghauri MRBM

From Tilla?

29 Nov

1 Hatf-4 (Shaheen-I) SRBM

Part of Strategic Missile Group exercise.

9 Dec

1 Haft-3 (Ghaznavi) SRBM

Part of Strategic Missile Group exercise.

Russia



3 Aug

1 Topol (SS-25?) ICBM

From Plesetsk, impact on Kura range.

7 Sep

1 Bulava SLBM

From Dmitry Donskoy (Typhoon) in White Sea. Failed.

9 Sep

1 SS-N-23 SLBM

From K-84 (Delta IV) at North Pole, impact on Kizha range.

10 Sep

1 SS-N-18 SLBM

From Delta III in Pacific, impact on Kizha range.

25 Oct

1 Bulava SLBM

From Dmitry Donskoy (Typhoon) in White Sea. Failed.

9 Nov

1 SS-19 ICBM

From Silo in Baykonur, impact on Kura range.

21 Dec

1 SS-18 ICBM

From Orenburg, impact on Kura range.

United States


16 Feb

1 Minuteman III ICBM

From Vandenberg AFB, impact Kwajalein. Final W87/Mk-21 SERV test flight.

Mar/Apr

2 Trident II D5 SLBMs

From SSBN.

4 Apr

1 Minuteman III ICBM

From Vandenberg AFB, impact near Guam. Extended-range, single-warhead flight test.

14 Jun

1 Minuteman III ICBM

From Vandenberg AFB, impact Kwajalein. Three-warhead payload.

20 Jul

1 Minuteman III ICBM

From Vandenberg AFB, impact Kwajalein. Three-warhead flight test. Launched by E-6B TACAMO airborne command post.

21 Nov

2 Trident II D5 SLBMs

From USS Maryland (SSBN-738) off Florida, impact in South Atlantic.

* Unreported events may add to the list.
** Iran does not have nuclear weapons but is suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons capability.
*** It is unknown if North Korea has developed a nuclear reentry vehicle for its ballistic missiles.


I researched several of these missiles. In many cases they are exceptionally large and efficient weapons delivery systems. For example, China uses the DF31

DF-31 is a three-stage, solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile. The basic variant DF-31 has a range of 8,000km and delivers a payload of between 1,050 and 1,750kg. This payload can be equipped with a single 1,000kT yield nuclear warhead.

The upgraded DF-31A has a range of at least 10,000km. The missile is said to be capable of deliver 3~5 MTRVs each with 20, 90 or 150kT yield as well as a single 1,000kT yield warhead. It is also possibly equipped with penetration aids and decoys to complicate enemy missile warning and defence.

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