Author: Dan
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Iraq: Ballistic Missiles and Weapons of Mass
Destruction
Until 1991 Iraq was the Middle Eastern leader in the development
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems.
Billions of petrodollars invested in its WMD program allowed
Iraq to develop all avenues of this field, including such exotic
projects as superguns and laser weapons. The Gulf War and subsequent
sanctions regime dealt a devastating blow to the Iraqi infrastructure,
destroying almost all the plant, equipment and materials necessary
for WMD production. Neither the war nor sanctions, however,
could eliminate Iraq's material and personnel capabilities entirely.
Iraq is still capable of rebuilding the assets it lost a decade
ago.
Nuclear Weapons
The acquisition of nuclear weapons was the primary goal of
the Iraqi regime in the early 1990s. With an investment estimated
at up to $10 billion, Iraq came fairly close to achieving nuclear
weapons production capability. Experts estimate that, barring
the 1991 war, Iraq could have produced its first atomic weapon
in 2-3 years, and in 5-8 years would have at its disposal a
small arsenal of bombs and rocket warheads.
The US bombardment and subsequent UN inspections eliminated
most of Iraq's installations and equipment, but it seems the
Iraqis were able to conceal specific elements of its WMD program.
As such, with the knowledge and training at the disposal of
its personnel, under ideal conditions (full removal of sanctions
and freedom to acquire the necessary materiel), Iraq could,
hypothetically, develop a nuclear weapon in 5-8 years.
Chemical Weapons
Until 1991 Iraq possessed large quantities of chemical weapons,
and was in the process of improving its arsenal. The Iraqi chemical
arsenal comprised poisons (prussic acid), blister agents (mustard
gas), and nerve agents (Sarin (GB), Zoman (GD), Tabun (GA),
VX). These could be delivered by 25 Scud missile warheads, about
2000 bombs, 15,000 artillery shells (including mortars and MLRS
rockets), and land mines.
Iraq began manufacturing chemical-weapons substances in the
middle 1970s. At the start of the Iran-Iraq war Iraq possessed
120mm mortars and 130mm artillery shells loaded with mustard
gas. In that war Iraq was the first side to use chemical weapons,
and subsequently put them to work against the Kurdish population
(according to certain sources, CW purchased from Egypt or the
USSR were used against the Kurds as early as 1973-1975). In
1982 Iraq made its first use of tear gas; in June 1983, it deployed
mustard gas (delivered by 250 kg bombs from Su-20 aircraft)
against the Iranians. In 1984 Iraq began producing tabun and
put it to work that year; in 1986 it began producing sarin.
The rate of production of all types of substances bound for
CW use was 10 tones per month at the end of 1985, and grew to
over 50 tones per month at the end of 1986. In early 1988 Iraq's
production of these substances was 70 T of mustard gas, 6 T
tabun and 6 T of sarin (amounting to almost 1000 T annual output).
Intensive efforts were underway for production of VX.
Although most of its chemical facilities were destroyed, it
was thought that Iraq was able to conceal a part of its CW arsenal,
and possibly several chemical warheads. Experts also posit that
if sanctions were lifted, Iraq would be able to redeploy its
CW programs without delay.
Biological Weapons
Before the Gulf War, Iraq was at an advanced stage of biological
weapons (BW) production, having produced some 8500 litres of
Anthrax spores, 19000 L of Botulinum, 4000 L of Aphlatoxin,
and a quantity of Typhoid. In 1990 Iraq possessed up to 25 Scud
warheads and 160 bombs equipped with BW. Plans were made to
deploy dispersal devices mounted on aerial platforms (airplanes,
helicopters, aerial drones). While its BW arsenal was eliminated,
Iraq still has the technology, personnel, and some (mostly dual-use)
equipment, with which it can quickly renew production.
Rockets and Ballistic Missiles
Iraq's ballistic missile (BM) program, like its CW and BW programs,
was badly damaged by US strikes and subsequent sanctions. In
all likelihood, Iraq was able to hide several dozen BM-some
of which may be tipped with chemical or biological warheads-and
several launchers (according to IISS, 6 Scud launchers with
27 missiles; according to JCSS, up to 5 'Al-Hussein' launchers
with 20-30 missiles; in 1991 Iraq had 24 Scud launchers and
48 'Al-Hussein' launchers-20 mobile and 28 stationary-and about
400 missiles for these). In addition, Iraq is allowed to develop
and manufacture rockets having up to 150-km range, which means
its missile technologies remain intact. If sanctions were lifted,
Iraq could redeploy its Scud production, according to estimates,
within a year.
|
Designation
|
Range, km
|
Weight, kg
|
KVO*, m
|
Type of engine
|
Quantity
|
|
min
|
max
|
Rocket
|
Warhead
|
Launchers
|
Missiles
|
|
Ababil-50
|
20
|
50
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Solid-fuel
|
?
|
?
|
|
Sajeel 60
|
12
|
60
|
|
?
|
?
|
Solid-fuel
|
?
|
?
|
|
FROG-7
|
?
|
65
|
2486
|
420
|
700
|
Solid-fuel
|
12-
|
up to 500
|
|
Laith 90
|
?
|
90
|
?
|
420
|
?
|
Solid-fuel
|
15
|
+
|
|
Ababil-100
|
?
|
100
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Solid-fuel
|
+
|
-
|
|
Al-Soumound
|
?
|
150
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
-
|
|
Scud-B
|
50
|
300
|
5862
|
989
|
900
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
-
|
|
Al-Fahd 300
|
?
|
300
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
ЖРД, TТPД
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Al-Fahd 500
|
?
|
500
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
ЖРД, TТPД
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Al Hussein
|
?
|
600
|
6785
|
300
|
3000
|
Liquid-fuel
|
up to 5
|
6-50
|
|
Al Hijarah
|
?
|
750
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Al Abbas
|
?
|
900
|
?
|
140-180
|
?
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Badr-2000
|
?
|
1000
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Solid-fuel
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Tammuz-1
|
?
|
2000
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
in development
|
|
Al Abid
(Tammuz-2)
|
?
|
3000
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
Liquid-fuel
|
-
|
in development
|
*KVO - radius of a circle in which 50% of all missiles hit
Long-range MLRS
Abadil-50 - 12-launcher 262mm, Yugoslavian М-87 clone;
Abadil-100 - 4-launcher 400mm, design based on the Abadil-50;
Sajeel 60 - 4-launcher 300mm, Brazilian SS-60 clone.
9K52 'Luna-M' (FROG-7) Tactical Missile
Acc. to IISS 29 launchers, acc. to JCSS 50 launchers.
Deployed in Iran-Iraq War: 67 launches (10 in 1980, 54 in 1981,
1 in 1982, 2 in 1984). Fired on Saudi Arabian targets in 1991.
Laith-90 is an Iraqi FROG-7 variant, with an increased range
of 90 km.
Al-Soumoud/Al-Fahd 300/Al-Fahd 500
In the early 1990s Iraq attempted to produce a 300-500km-range
surface-surface BM based on the Soviet S-75 SAM (according to
some sources the Abadil-100 is also based on the S-75). The
sanctions regime allows possession of missiles of up to 150-km
range; Iraq has continued production in the 100-150 km class.
As of 2000 Iraq has held 8 test-launches of the above.
Tactical (theater-range) ballistic missiles
(SS-1C SСUD-В, ОТР-14)
At the start of the Iran-Iraq was Iraq had 1 'Scud' brigade
(9 launchers). First launched 27 Oct 82 (though according to
US experts, 8 Scuds were launched without result in 1980). 331
were launched in the course of the war (361 according to another
source: 3 in 1982, 33 in 1983, 25 in 1984, 82 in 1985, 25 in
1987 and 193 in 1988). During the period of March-April 1988
(the so-called "war of the cities") Iraq expended
183 Scuds-3 per day on average-the most intensive use of Scuds
in its war with Iran. In sum Iraq received delivery of 800 Scuds
from the USSR, including 300 in 1986. Some of these were used
in the development of the 'Al Hussein' and 'Al-Abbas'.
Al Hussein/Al Hijarah/Al Abbas
Developed from Scud-B missiles. The mass of the warhead is
reduced and length of the missile is increased, resulting in
a larger fuel capacity and longer range. (Length of 'Al Hussein'
is 12.55m, 'Scud' is 11.25m).
Five 'Al Hussein' missiles were fired against Iran 29 Feb 88.
These were able to reach Teheran (460 km from the border, beyond
range of the 'Scud'; at the same time, Baghdad, 130 km from
the border, was subjected to regular bombardment by Iranian
Scuds). In 1991, 88 (89-93 according to other sources) missiles
were fired on Saudi Arabia (46), Bahrain (1) and Israel (42;
38-39 according to other sources, including 33 'Al Hussein'
and 5 'Al-Hijarah'; 19 missiles fell on greater Tel Aviv, 12
on the Haifa area, 4 on the Negev-one of these had a concrete
warhead-and 4 on Samaria). Due to the missiles' low accuracy,
their effect was mostly psychological. In Israel the missile
attacks caused 1-2 deaths and 208 (mostly light) injuries; 4
people died of heart attack and 7 due to incorrect usage of
gas masks. There were 225 cases of unsanctioned use of atropine.
Damage was done to 1302 buildings, 6142 apartments, 23 public
buildings, 200 stores, and 50 automobiles. The extent of the
damage caused directly by the missile attacks was $250 million.
Badr-2000
Joint Iraqi-Egyptian-Argentine project to develop a 1000-km
range solid-fuel missile. Cancelled due to disagreements among
the participants. Argentinean designation is Condor-2/Vector;
estimated range according to other sources, up to 800 km.
Tammuz-1/Al Abid
2,000-km range two-stage rocket. Currently in initial development
phase.
Sources:
1. Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
2. Center for Nonproliferation Studies - Monterey Institute
of International Studies.
3. "The Military Balance 2001-2002." International
Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) annual report. (London,
2001).
4. "SIPRI Yearbook 2001: Armaments, Disarmament and International
Security." Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
(2002).
5. "The Middle East Military Balance 2000-2001," Jaffee
Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS) annual report (Tel Aviv,
2001).
6. Shunkov, V.N. "Rocket Weapons" (Minsk, 2001).
7. UNSCOM reports.
8. Information Paper: "Iraq's Scud Missiles".
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