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Updated August 2007
Missile Chronology
1978-1985
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
Phase II: Foreign Assistance for Missile Development, 1978-1989
Late 1970s
The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) designs the "Techniks" missile based on the design of the US-built Pershing 1. The Condor II design bears a striking resemblance to the German missile. According to former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, Dr. Stephen Bryen, the Techniks is designed by MBB purely for export. [Note: A knowledgeable source contacted by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) refutes this claim and states that Techniks was a "forerunner" and a modification of the Pershing 2 first stage with terminal guidance.] The principal markets for the missile are believed to be Argentina and Egypt.
—"UN Inspectors Destroy Condor II Equipment," Middle East Defense News, 30 March 1992, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>; CNS interview with missile engineer familiar with technical dimensions of Argentine missile program. Source wishes to remain anonymous.
Late 1970s-1989
The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) collaborates with Argentina in development of the Cóndor missile. MBB is partially under federal ownership and supervision until 1989, and is a profitable enterprise for the West German government. Initially, MBB works on a "weather research rocket" under the code name Condor 1. The project, however, is allegedly only a cover to allow missile technicians to enter the country without raising suspicion.
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 41; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 158; "Waffengeschaefte – Gegeim-projekt Condor," Stern, 25 August 1988, translated by US Defense Intelligence Agency, 15 September 1988.
1978
Chile and Argentina reach the brink of war stemming from their dispute over demarcation of the South Beagle Channel.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 20.
1979
Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales (CNIE) assigns a group of technicians to the Vicecomodoro Marambio launch base on the northeastern tip of Antarctica. Vicecomodoro Marambio is one of three Argentine bases capable of launching rockets.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 35.
1979-1981
Air Force Chief Brigadier General Omar Rubens Graffigna appoints a small, "super-secret" commission of scientists and technicians to conduct a theoretical study of the possibility of constructing a nuclear warhead suitable for a medium-range missile. An Air Force commodore heads the group, which after two years concludes that the Air Force cannot gain access to highly enriched uranium (HEU) or weapons-grade plutonium necessary to produce a nuclear warhead. In its research, the group reportedly does not make contact with either the National Atomic Energy Commission (Comisión Nacional de Energia Atómica; CNEA), nor the military service most closely tied to the CNEA, the Navy. [Note: In 1978, the CNEA launched a top-secret gaseous-diffusion uranium enrichment plant at Pilcaniyeu, which is not publicly revealed until 1983.] The Air Force subsequently directs developmental efforts toward conventional warheads, without forgetting that the nuclear option existed, at least in principle.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 220-222.
Summer 1979
Air Force Commander José García is authorized to negotiate a military industrial project in Argentina with Dornier, a subsidiary of the German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), in Munich.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 20.
10 August 1979
Air Force Head Omar Rubens Graffigna signs the secret "Satellite Development Plan," the first step in the Cóndor initiative. The "Satellite Development Plan" becomes the plan for the Cóndor project. Soon after, the Air Force develops Plan 2000 to develop new projects, which include the Cóndor program.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 20; Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), pp. 13, 16.
1979
The German-Austrian company BOWAS begins construction on the Falda del Carmen plant for production of solid-fuel propellant for the Cóndor program. The facility is located in a pueblo of 100 people, 10km from Alta Gracia, outside the city of Córdoba.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 16; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 20; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 19.
1980
The Argentine government contracts Consen to act as technical advisor in development of the Cóndor I. Consen is a nominally independent firm that uses office space of the German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and other facilities and hires over 10 senior missile experts from MBB. An MBB subsidiary, Transtechnica, is also to assist.
—"Profil Views Involvement In Iraq Arms Plant," Profil (Vienna), 24 April 1989; pp. 38-42, cited in Nuclear Developments, 5 May 1989, pp. 34-36; "The Cóndor Conspiracy," BBC Panorama, 10 April 1989; Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) interview with missile engineer familiar with technical dimensions of Argentine missile program. Source wishes to remain anonymous.
1980
European involvement in the Cóndor project increases, with Bolhen Industries providing technology. Later, the principal European actors are related to the Consen Group, which includes Consen SA, IFAT (Institute for Advanced Technology) Corporation, Ltd., and Desintec AG (an IFAT subsidiary). Consen is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and is at the center of a network of firms based in Argentina, Austria, Germany, New Jersey, Monaco, and the United Kingdom. Helmut Reiser, a German engineer, is one of the important figures involved in reaching deals on the Cóndor project. Many Consen personnel working on the Cóndor were involved in earlier collaborative European projects that dates back to the 1960s, and which culminated in the Ariane system. [Note: A knowledgeable source interviewed by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) states that Consen personnel did not work on the Ariane missile system but may have worked on the space launch vehicle.]
—Simon Henderson, "West Blocks Advance of Condor II Missile," Financial Times, 31 August 1989, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>; "The Cóndor Conspiracy," BBC Panorama, 10 April 1989; CNS interview with missile engineer familiar with technical dimensions of Argentine missile program. Source wishes to remain anonymous.
Early 1980s
APV Chemical Machinery, a US subsidiary of the British food-processing firm APV, sells several mixers for solid-fuel production to the Italian aerospace firm SNIA-BPD. Some are then transferred to the Argentina Air Force for use in the Cóndor program.
—"Iraqi Bid to Buy Condor Kit Stopped," MidEast Markets, 16 October 1989, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
Early 1980s
The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) begins work on an upgraded version of the US Pershing 2 missile. When officials in Washington become aware of MBB's role in the Cóndor II project, they warn MBB about possible technology transfers and advise that they disengage from the Cóndor project. MBB responds by furloughing over 30 senior managers and engineers to create a special firm specifically for the Cóndor. [Note: A knowledgeable source interviewed by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) claims that MBB never worked on the Pershing 2.]
—William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 467; CNS interview with missile engineer familiar with technical dimensions of Argentine missile program. Source wishes to remain anonymous.
11 April 1980
Argentina recalls all diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Iran.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 57, who cite Noticias Argentinas and Cable 24 of New York.
1981
The Argentine Navy buys the Super Etendart aircraft system from France, which includes aircraft and Exocet AM-39 air-to-ground missiles.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 62.
1981
Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales (CNIE) moves its offices to Calle Dorrego after parts of the Air Force headquarters, called the Cóndor building, collapse.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 27.
12 March 1981
National Law 22.426 moves the National Registry of Contracts, Licenses, and Technology Transfer to the jurisdiction of the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI).
—Emanuel Adler, The Power of Ideology: The Quest for Technological Autonomy in Argentina and Brazil, (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of Berkeley Press, 1987), pp. 110-111, 117.
3 April 1981
French engineers and technicians calibrating Exocet missiles leave Buenos Aires. With little technical expertise in such matters, the Argentine military manages to calibrate three Exocets and to launch one of those from Puerto Argentino. [Note: The difficulty in obtaining additional Exocets motivates acceleration of the Cóndor missile project.]
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 62.
1982
At Chile's request, the United States investigates the sale by Israel of 54 Skyhawks used by Argentina during the Falklands/Malvinas War. Concern originates with the Israeli Labor Pary officials, who are concerned the United States has not authorized such a sale. However, Ariel Sharon, a Likud party candidate, objects to consulting the United States and the request is channeled through Chile. The report determines that Israel sold 30 Skyhawks to the Argentine Air Force and 24 to the Navy.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 41.
1982
US President Ronald Reagan authorizes National Security Directive 70, which warns of the dangers of missile technology proliferation in the developing world.
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 35.
2 April 1982
Following the largest anti-government demonstrations since the military "Proceso" took power in March 1976, the Argentine armed forces invade the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and quickly subdue the British garrison. Argentina has long claimed the islands, despite their physical control by Britain since its forcible occupation and expulsion of Spanish-speaking colonists in 1833. Through the invasion, the Argentine junta sought to incite public outrage over Britain’s illegitimate occupation and catalyze a nationalist "rally 'round the flag," thus distracting attention from mounting public disaffection with the regime. The gambit backfires, however, as unforeseen military defeat utterly discredits to the Proceso government.
—Thomas E. Skidmore and Peter H. Smith, Modern Latin America, 3rd ed. (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992), pp. 105-106; David Rock, Argentina, 1516-1987: From Spanish Colonization to Alfonsín, (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1987), pp. 380-382; Jack S. Levy and Lili Vakili, "Diversionary Action by Authoritarian Regimes: Argentina in the Falklands/Malvinas Case," Manus I. Midlarsky, ed., The Internationalization of Communal Strife (New York: Harper Collins, 1992).
14 June 1982
Argentine armed forces surrender to the British in Port Stanley, and both the Army and Navy are humiliated by their poor performance during the brief South Atlantic conflict. However, Air Force pilots win national respect for the courage and competence in inflicting significant damage on the British fleet.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 19; Thomas E. Skidmore and Peter H. Smith, Modern Latin America, 3rd ed. (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992), pp. 106-107; David Rock, Argentina, 1516-1987: From Spanish Colonization to Alfonsín, (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1987), pp. 381-382.
Mid-1982
Some 50 Air Force veterans of the Falklands/Malvinas War gather in the Air War College (Escuela de Guerra Aérea) immediately after the conflict. Over 70 days of discussions, these self-named "pariahs" led by Ernesto Crespo, José Juliá, Teodoro Waldner, Tomás Rodríguez, Carlos Corino, and Roberto Petrich become the core of a new effort within the Air Force. Like fellow officers in their service, they do not accept Argentine defeat in the Falklands/Malvinas War, and view the conflict as having demonstrated not only their military competence but also their centrality to future national defense. Stung by Argentina's technological dependence on France for Exocet anti-ship missiles, they develop the "Air Force Development Plan" for the next 10 years, which envisions four ambitious projects, including the Cóndor II.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 23, 39-40, 62; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), pp. 13, 15.
1983
The Falda del Carmen facility is completed in Córdoba.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 16.
1983
Program personnel conduct a static test of the Cóndor I motor.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 26.
1983
Canada, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and West Germany begin negotiations that will lead to establishment of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 35.
1983
The Argentine military recognizes that it may encounter increasing economic and political difficulties in the Cóndor project once the country returns to civilian control.
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 46.
1983
The Italian firm SNIA-Viscosa legally sells three vertical mixers for propellant production, which had been fabricated in the United States, to the Argentine Cóndor program.
—Vann Van Diepen, ["intelligence document"], secret, date not known but circa 1992; translated and published in Martin Granovsky, Misión cumplida: La presión norteamericana sobre la Argentina, de Braden a Todman (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 343.
1983-1989
The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) works with Argentina in development and financing of the Cóndor through its affiliate company, Consulting Engineers, SA (Consen).
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 19.
June 1983
The first multilateral meeting between the original seven members of the future Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) takes place.
—Deborah A. Ozga, "A Chronology of the Missile Technology Control Regime," Nonproliferation Review, Winter 1994, p. 68.
5 August 1983
The Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT) is founded in Zug.
—William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 467.
13 December 1983
Raúl Alfonsín of the Radical Civic Union (UCR) Party assumes the presidency, after winning an upset electoral victory against the Peronist (Justicialista) Party. This marks the transition from authoritarian military to civilian democratic rule in Argentina.
—Thomas E. Skidmore and Peter H. Smith, Modern Latin America, 3rd ed. (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992), p. 108.
December 1983
Brigadier General Teodoro Waldner becomes Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 32.
23 December 1983
Argentina and Iran continue having problems in their bilateral relations. In Madrid, Spanish customs agents seize a shipment of small arms sent from Argentina bound for Tehran. According to Iranian Chancellor Alí Akbar Vellevati, Iran presents a brief document to the Spanish officials who detained the shipment.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 63.
Beginning of 1984
The Argentine Air Force is now under civilian control, and keeping the Cóndor project secret within a select group of military specialists is no longer possible. The head of the Argentine Air Force, Teodoro Waldner, informs Raúl Alfonsín, the newly elected President, and several other high-ranking civilian officials of this situation.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 28; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), pp. 18-19.
1984
Iraq agrees to enter the Cóndor project, provided that the resulting product has a range at least five times that of the Cóndor I's 150km range (i.e., capable of reaching Tehran or Tel Aviv). Guerrero calculates that the Cóndor I can be transformed into the second stage of a larger rocket with a liquid-fuel booster to extend the range, but that doing so will require technology that will attract the attention of the United States and Great Britain. To avoid scrutiny, the Iraqis suggest using Egypt as a go-between. Iraq agrees to provide funding via Egypt for the Argentine Cóndor II program, probably in exchange for some portion of Argentine missile production and to gain its own missile production capability. Saudi Arabia, while appearing to be ambivalent about the project, secretly deposits $1 billion into Swiss banks for its support. The Saudis are eager to support a missile that can be fired on Israel and/or "revivalists" in Iran. The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) in turn makes lavish expenditures using the Arab money, giving its employees extravagant bonuses and paying well above market value for missile elements. [Note: Although some characterize spending on the project as excessive, employees of Consen may have paid well above market price for many items in order to maintain good relations with their former companies who supplied them with missile parts. This was especially true of MBB, which allegedly allowed Consen to operate out of its offices for weeks at a time.]
—Kenneth Timmerman, The Death Lobby: How the West Armed Iraq (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1991), pp. 154-155; US Central Intelligence Agency, Iraqi Ballistic Missile Developments: An Intelligence Assessment (Washington, DC: Directorate of Intelligence, 30 June 1990), classified "Top Secret," declassified excerpts released 5 March 1998, <http://www.foia.ucia.gov>, p. 9; William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), pp. 469-470; "Waffengeschaefte – Gegeim-projekt Condor," Stern, 25 August 1988, translated by US Defense Intelligence Agency, 15 September 1988.
1984
Many German engineers working on the Cóndor II project are also jointly working on the German KOLAS missile, which is a short-range missile similar in design the Pershing 2. The US firm Martin Marietta, the original Pershing 2 manufacturer, collaborates with the German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) on KOLAS. [Note: This collaboration leads to assertion that the Cóndor II was built using Pershing technology.]
—William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), pp. 470-471.
1984
The British defense firm Hunting Engineering conducts work for the Zug-based firm Desintec to predict the performance of the Cóndor I.
—"US Aid Money Financed Condor," MidEast Markets, 11 December 1989, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
1984
The United Kingdom monitors offensive weapons developed by Argentina with the capacity to reach the Malvinas/Falklands Islands.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 40-41.
1984
British, Israeli, and US intelligence agencies are aware of the Cóndor II project. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher begins pressing her West German counterpart, Helmut Kohl, to stop cooperating with Argentina in the Cóndor project.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 17.
1984
The first public account of the Cóndor is reported in the Sunday Times of London, which cites British government sources.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 32.
1984
US Ambassador Robert Bushnell investigates an arms shipment from Argentina to Iran. According to Raúl Tomás, a former Ministry of Defense official, Bushnell sought to ensure that Argentina did not sell arms to Iran, but never expressed concern regarding the Cóndor.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 63-64.
1984
At this point, the Argentine Air Force has four ambitious projects: computerization of all weapons systems, development of the IA-63 Pampa aircraft, plans to obtain technology to create an AWACS early warning aircraft, and the Cóndor project. According to Brigadier General Waldner, Air Force Chief of General Staff, the Cóndor project reaches its zenith during Alfonsín's term. Waldner views the IA-63 Pampa aircraft—a more visible project—as a higher priority than the Cóndor, and he is running out of funds for the Cóndor effort.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 31, 40-41.
1984-1988
International Signal and Control, a defense firm located in Pennsylvania, ships US missile technology and military equipment to South Africa, which is in violation of US export law but apparently with the acquiescence of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The technologies include photo-imaging equipment for missile testing; telemetry tracking equipment; and gyroscopes for missile guidance. Some equipment reportedly is later employed in the Cóndor II project in Iraq.
—Alan Friedman, "CIA 'Knew' of Illegal US Missile Deal," Financial Times, 24 May 1991, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
15 February 1984
The Egyptian Ministry of Defense signs a contract with Switzerland's Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT) for the planning and delivery of a projection plant for the manufacture of rocket engines, as well as the design and development of a conventional missile system.
—United States v Abdelkader Helmy, et al., S 88 201 RAR (1989), p. 4; William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 468.
March 1984
Honeywell's UK subsidiary, Honeywell Control Systems, signs a $200,000 contract (Burrows and Windrem report a $100,000 contract) with Switzerland’s Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT) to conduct a study of fuel-air explosives (FAE) for Egypt’s Ministry of Defense. Ken Smith, a British aerospace consultant to both IFAT and Honeywell Control, negotiates the FAE deal and supplies specifications to Honeywell on 9 October 1985 and 4 November 1984. These state that the weapon should weigh 400kg, and have a volume of 0.5 cubic meters. Egypt originally tries to obtain FAEs from the US State Department under the guise of using such munitions to clear mines in the Egyptian desert, but the request is rejected.
—"A Bigger Blast," Middle East, January 1991, pp. 15-16; "Honeywell Implicated in FAE Work," Flight International, 12 December 1990, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>; United States v Abdelkader Helmy, et al., S 88 201 RAR (1989), p. 4; William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 200.
4 April 1984
A Honeywell internal memo outlines the company's discussion with Kevin Smith, a consultant to Switzerland's Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT) and Honeywell Control Systems, to obtain a fuel-air explosives' (FAE) study for Egypt. The memo notes that "[t]he Egyptians are developing a ballistic missile with the technical efforts being funded by the Saudi Arabians. The Saudis have provided, according to Smith, $1 billion to IFAT. Smith remarked that this money is "currently being deposited in Swiss banks." According to the memo, the missile, "to have an accuracy of 0.1% of its range, was intended to attack high value, fixed targets such as cities, ports, oil refineries, and air bases...[T]he missile would probably never be fired in anger." Smith assures Honeywell that by the time the report is passed from IFAT to the Egyptians, all Honeywell logos and corporate symbols would be removed.
—"A Bigger Blast," Middle East, January 1991, pp. 15-16.
July 1984
Air Force officials take Defense Minister Raúl Borrás to visit Falda del Carmen.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 19.
October 1984
An Egyptian delegation representing Iraq signs an agreement in Buenos Aires to begin development of the $3.2 billion Cóndor II project. Iraq funds much of the project, which it and Egypt term Badr-2000. The German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) is the most prominent supplier for the project and provides design and planning assistance as well as laboratory simulation and missile-control equipment. Egypt and Iraq are each to receive 200 missiles, as well as missile production facilities to produce additional units. Cairo’s interest is reportedly spurred by Israel’s deployment of the Jericho-II ballistic missile, which has a range of at least 750km.
—Mel Elfin, "Behind the Condor Carbon-Carbon Smuggling Scam," US News & World Report, 25 July 1988, p. 38, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>; Tony Walker, Andrew Gowers, and David Buchan, "Egypt and Argentina in Long-Range Missile Plan," Financial Times, 21 December 1987, p. 28, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
December 1984
Honeywell delivers a 141-page study to Switzerland's Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT) entitled FAE Warheaed Analysis Final Report. [Note: Burrows and Windrem later mention a 300-page FAE report sold to Ken Smith. It is unclear whether this is the same report but sanitized for classified material, a pre-existing report, or a typographical error.]
—William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), pp. 201, 473.
14 December 1984
The Argentine Air Force, Tecnologia Aeroespacial SA, Switzerland's Institute for Advanced Technology (IFAT), DESINTEC AG, and Consen SA, sign agreements on cooperation and export of technology and materials, all of which are to be overseen by the Argentine Ministry of Defense.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 33; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 25.
Mid-1980s
Cóndor II rocket engines are tested at testing facilities near Azul, 500km south of Buenos Aires. Transtechnica analyzes the test results.
—"Waffengeschaefte – Gegeim-projekt Condor," Stern, 25 August 1988, translated by US Defense Intelligence Agency, 15 September 1988, available through the Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.
1985-1988
During this period, Argentina ships 12 solid-fuel rocket motors to Egypt.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 119.
March 1985
Brigadier General Crespo becomes Commander in Chief of the Argentine Air Force. On taking his new post, he decides to continue both the Cóndor missile and Pampa aircraft projects.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 31; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 32.
15 March 1985
Teodoro Waldner becomes Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 32.
9 April 1985
President Alfonsín signs Secret Decree 604 to conclude the deal with Egypt, and officially authorize the contracts signed on 14 December 1984. Juan Sourrouille, Minister of Economy, Dante Caputo, Minister of External Relations, and Raúl Borrás, Minister of Defense, also sign the decree. By this agreement, Argentina agrees to deliver 44 motors plus four "test motors" to Egypt. The decree approves both the Cóndor I and Cóndor II as part of the Air Force's "Satellite Plan."
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 33; Mario Baizan, "Iraq’s Involvement in Condor II Project Viewed," Somos, 28 January 1991, pp. 1-4, cited in FBIS JPRS-TND-91-003, 25 February 1991, pp. 13-15; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 24; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 28; Martin Granovsky, Misión cumplida: La presión norteamericana sobre la Argentina, de Braden a Todman (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 194.
25 May 1985
Defense Minister Borrás dies, and Germán Lopez stands in until José Horacio Juanarena assumes the post.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 34.
June 1985
The Argentine Air Force displays a rocket less ambitious than the Cóndor II, which is called the Cóndor I-A III [also written as "C1 A3"], at the International Air and Space Exposition in Le Bourget, France. A brochure describes the rocket as "a state of the art, high-performance multi-purpose vehicle." The literature also notes that rocket research came from the German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm’s (MBB) Astronautics Division. [Note: This rocket may have been the Alacrán, a solid-fueled missile of up to 120km range and 450kg payload missile.]
— Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 24; César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 41; "Argentina Develops Condor Solid-Propellant Rocket," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 17 June 1985, p. 61; "The Cóndor Conspiracy," BBC Panorama, 10 April 1989; William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 467.
11 June 1985
Argentine Brigadier General Edgardo Stahl, a military engineer of German descent in charge of the Córdoba materiel area, meets with the German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm's (MBB) director Karl Adolf Hammer in Europe. Hammer informs Stahl that due to domestic and foreign political pressure, MBB cannot continue with the Cóndor II project. Hammer offers to relocate the project abroad, with a group of MBB experts to work in the client country.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), pp. 40-41.
August 1985
Officials at the Military Aircraft Factory (Fábrica Militar de Aviones-FMA) acknowledge that the Cóndor has potential military applications.
—"Flight of the Condor," International Defense Review, August 1985, p. 1357.
August 1985
Italy's SNIA engages RATA to provide guidance and control equipment. [Note: This date is inferred from the intial story and may be inaccurate.]
—"Iraq's Involvement In Cóndor II Project Viewed," Somos (Buenos Aires), 28 January 1991, pp. 1-4; cited in Nuclear Developments, 25 February 1991, p. 13.
October 1985
After President Alfonsín meets with a group of Arab businessmen in Texas, Saudi representatives state that they are ready to make "large investments" in Argentina if it ceases selling grain to Iran and instead begins selling to Iraq.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 65; "El Condor Esta Vivito y Coleando," Somos, 8 June 1992, pp. 18-20.
12 October 1985
Iranian Vice-Chancellor Mansouri holds a press conference at Iran's embassy in Buenos Aires to explain the results of a weeklong visit by Vice-Chancellor Jorge Sábato. Mansouri asserts that Latin America's external debt is just another instrument that the United States has adopted to exercise control in the Middle East.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 43.
End of 1985
Installations for propulsion system fabrication are completed.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 26.
December 1985
An article in Asuntos Militares details technical specifications and timeline for the Cóndor project, declaring that Argentina would join the "ballistic missile club" by 1990. Asuntos Militares interviews Edgardo Sthal, who details the impact of the Malvinas War on Argentina's reliance on the purchase missiles. It prompts the decision to invest in development of its own missile program, which would allow greater strategic flexibility during military operations. Sthal provides a detailed description of Falda del Carmen. This same year, Sthal is promoted to Brigadier General, and is placed in charge of development efforts.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 22, 24-27.
Late 1985
Program personnel are not able to fulfill their goal of a test launch of the Cóndor by the end of the year.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 26.
1985
By this time, the Secreto Militar Italian (SISMI) reportedly has information regarding the participation of SNIA-BPD in the Cóndor project.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 23.
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