Iran claims it's 'impossible' for interceptors to destroy its new solid-fuel IRBM
Friday, December 18, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
NICOSIA Ñ Iran has reported a successful test of its new solid-fuel ballistic missile.
The Teheran regime said Iran's new Sejil-2 missile underwent a successful test on Dec. 16. A government statement said Sejil-2, Iran's second solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile, struck its target during its two-stage launch.
"This is considered as a great development in Iran's defense industry, increasing the country's technical and tactical powers," Iranian Defense Minister Ahmed Vahidi said.
Vahidi said Sejil-2, with a reported range of 2,500 kilometers, could penetrate Israeli and U.S. missile defense systems. He said the missile has been upgraded by Iran's state-owned defense industry during 2009.
"It is impossible to destroy it by missile interceptors," Vahidi said.
The United States has expressed concern over Iran's Sejil program. But the Defense Department said the latest launch did not break any ground.
"I'm not going to get into the particulars of what our intelligence shows other than to say I don't think there was anything here that was particularly different than what we've seen in the past," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
Officials said Sejil-2 marked an enhanced variant of the heritage Sejil-1. They said two-stage Sejil-2 contained advanced navigation and guidance systems to improve accuracy and maneuverability.
During 2009, Israel and the United States conducted a series of exercises and simulations in an effort to plan for Iranian missile attacks. The latest exercise, termed Juniper Cobra and which took place in November, was said to have envisioned an attack by Iran's Sejil. Sejil was believed to have been designed to contain a nuclear warhead.
Officials said Sejil-2 could also be launched faster than its predecessor. They did not elaborate.