Location: Latitude 35° 34' North; longitude 53° 23' East; 175km east of Tehran; province of Semnan.
Primary Function: Missile test range and production.
Description and Activities:
Semnan is located 175km east of Tehran in the province of Semnan. It is thought to produce solid-fuel rockets in joint endeavors with China, as well as indigenous versions; it has been doing so since at least 1987. One source indicates that it is expected to produce the Iran-130 in addition to 600-1,000 Oghab rockets annually.
In 1991, two test launches were reported, possibly demonstration flights of the Chinese M-9 and M-11 missiles. A successful test firing at Semnan of the Shehab 3 was announced by Iran in September 2000, further suggesting that the "Shehab 3D" is for use as a satellite launcher. US officials contradicted the success of the test, stating that it was a failure that called into question the Shehab 3's fully operational status.
Key Sources: John Pike, "Semnan," <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/facility/semnan.htm>; "The Iranian Missile Program," Yadernyy Kontrol Digest, no. 6, Winter 1997-1998; Anthony Cordesman "Iran and Nuclear Weapons," CSIS Middle East Studies Program, 17 May 2000; Duncan Lennox, "Iran's Ballistic Missiles Projects: Uncovering the Evidence," Jane's Intelligence Review, June 1998; Andrew Koch, "Third Iranian Shahab Test 'a Fizzle'," Jane's Intelligence Review, November 2000; "Iran: Medium Range Missile Test Fired," Facts on File, 21 September 2000.
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Updated May 2004 |
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