Iran Develops Remote Missile-Launching System

Iran has completed a system for remotely launching dozens of its Shahab ballistic missiles from underground bunkers in the event of a U.S. or Israeli strike on the country’s nuclear facilities, the Jerusalem Post reported today (see GSN, June 22).

North Korea aided development of the remote-control system, which uses Chinese technology, Western sources said.  Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Yayha Rahim Safavi said that Iran has also outfitted its Shahab missiles with an advanced guidance system for steering the weapons after launch.

Iran’s Shahab 3 ballistic missiles have been recently upgraded to increase their range from about 800 miles to more than 1,200 miles, the Post reported.

Israeli military officials said recently that Iran would most likely respond to an attack by launching Shahab missiles at Israeli or U.S. targets in the Middle East (Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post, Aug. 22).

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