Israel Conducts Ballistic Missile Test

Israel today conducted a successful test launch of a ballistic missile, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Oct. 26, 2006).

“There was an important test, which was carried out successfully, of a ballistic missile,” Israeli army radio said without elaborating.

However, Ynetnews said the test was “part of a future multilayered defense system designed to counter various aerial threats against the Jewish state,” Agence France-Presse reported.

Israel has been developing its capability to deter an attack from Iran, which has carried out periodic missile tests over the past several years (see related GSN story, today).

Israel is believed to be working on the Jericho 3 ballistic missile, which could be capable of delivering a chemical, biological or nuclear warhead to a ground target as far as 2,800 miles away, AFP reported (see GSN, Oct. 4, 2002; Agence France-Presse/Google News, Jan. 17).

Israel Radio suggested that the missile used in the test was capable of carrying an “unconventional payload,” Reuters reported.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said the missile launch occurred “within the framework of examining rocket propulsion” (Reuters/New York Times, Jan. 17).

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