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Updated January 2010
Missile Chronology
2007-2009
4 January 2007
The United States freezes the American assets of three Syrian government organizations that it accuses of helping to proliferate weapons of mass destruction. The US Treasury Department said it had designated the Syrian Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology, the Electronics Institute, and the National Standards and Calibration Laboratory as proliferators under an executive order aimed at combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The three institutions are subordinates of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC). The SSRC claims to promote civilian research for Syria's economic development, however, Western sources allege that the SSRC engages in independent weapons system development for the military. It is also responsible for the production of strategic weapons, including surface-to-surface missiles and rocket systems as well as chemical and biological warfare agents.
—"U.S. Slaps Sanctions on 3 Syrian labs over WMD proliferation concern," Japan Economic Newswire, January 4, 2007; Robin Hughes, "US freezes assets of three Syrian organizations," Jane's Defence Weekly, 5 January 2007.
22 January 2007
The Jerusalem Post reports that Syria has test-fired a 'Scud D' short-range ballistic missile that is capable of striking anywhere in neighboring Israel. Israel's Arrow Weapon System detected the launch and tracked the test. Agence France Presse further reports that the 11-meter (36-foot) missile has a range of 700 km (440 miles) and was originally Russian-built but has been improved with North Korean technology. Janes's Defence Weekly adds that the missile was manufactured in Syria and is alleged to be fitted with a chemical warhead.
—"Israeli media says Syria has tested Scud," Agence France Presse, 2 February 2007; Alon Ben-David, "Syria test fires 'Scud D' missile," Jane's Defence Weekly, 2 February 2007.
23 January 2007
Russia's state defense export Rosoboronexport denies that "new" deliveries of the Strelets short-range air-defense system have been made to Syria. According to Sergey Chemezov, director general of Rosoboronexport, the negotiations concerning the ground-to-air missile system are complicated. A contract concerning the delivery has not been signed and it is not clear when it will be signed, he stated through the Russian state information service RIA Novosti. It is unclear whether Chemezov was referring to an entirely new contract or part of a previous agreement, signed between Russia and Syria in 2005. The news agency further says that Valeriy Kashin, head of Strelets manufacturer, Kolomna KBM, had confirmed that Russia had met all its commitments in 2006 under the contract to supply Syria with the Strelets system, confirming the delivery of equipment under the 2005 contract.
—Keri Smith, "Rosoboronexport denies claims of Strelets deal with Syria," Jane's Defence Weekly, 24 January 2007; "Russia-Syria deal on short-range air defence missiles not yet complete," Itar-Tass, 23 January 2007.
21 February 2007
Jane's Defence Weekly reports that intelligence sources indicate that Syria is developing maneuvering capabilities for its Scuds, as well as seeking to acquire the Russian Iskander-E (SS-X-26). [Note: The SS-X-26 is a solid-fuel road-mobile ballistic missile with a range of 400 km.]
—Alon Ben-David, "Arrow destroys target simulating a Shahab," Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 February 2007; Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World, Lexington, Massachusetts: AMI International, 1999, p. 526.
11 March 2007
A senior Israeli military source says that an AFP report from 9 March 2007 about Syrian deployment of missiles is inaccurate. The report stated that Syria had deployed thousands of long-range and intermediate-range missiles along the borders to Israel. On Voice of Israel Network B the military official says that "there are no movements by Syrian forces, nor is there any information regarding offensive intentions on the party of the Syrian Army."
—"Israeli 'source' denies AFP report on Syria deploying missiles along border," Voice of Israel Network B, Open Source Document GMP20070311735001, 11 March 2007; "Israeli source denies report on Syria deploying missiles," BBC, 11 March 2007.
19 September 2007
Syria and Iran abort a joint development program to weaponize Syrian Scud B, C, and D missiles with chemical warheads. This follows an explosion on a Syrian military complex in Aleppo last month. The explosion occurred during an attempt to equip a 500-km-range Scud C with a mustard gas warhead.
—Robin Hughes, "Explosion aborts CW project run by Iran and Syria," Jane's Defence Weekly, 17 September 2007; "Syrian blast was chemical warhead glitch-magazine," Reuters, 19 September 2007; "Blast at secret Syrian missile site kills dozens," Times Online, 20 September 2007.
26 September 2007
Syria purportedly acquires an intermediate-range ballistic missile from North Korea. The missile is believed to be a variant of the North Korean No-Dong missile.
—"Israel: Western intel 'sources' say Syria acquires N. Korean No-Dong missiles," Middle East Newsline, 26 September 2007, Open Source Document GMP20070926740011.
26 November 2007
Reports allege that North Korean engineers specializing in surface-to-surface missiles have been visiting Syria. This comes amid growing speculation that there is active cooperation in the nuclear and missile related fields between Syria and North Korea.
—"Japan: Source reveals DPRK missile engineers Secretly visited Syria mid-Nov 2007," Sankei Shimbun, 26 November 2007; "Tokyo daily: Source says 3 DPRK missile experts died in Syria Scud test explosion," Sankei Shimbun, 6 October 2007, Open Source Document JPP20071008026001.
27 February 2008
Israel's Mossad claims Syria is accelerating its ballistic missile program with North Korean help, doubling manufacturing capability in the last two years. Mossad chief Meir Dagan, tells the Israeli Knesset that Syria has increased the range of its SCUD-D missiles from 650-700 km to 800 km, and has also improved the accuracy of its SCUD-C arsenal.
—David C. Isby, "Syrian ballistic missile, rocket capability gets a boost," Jane's Missiles & Rockets, 1 March 2008.
13 March 2008
Syria is believed to be seeking S-300PMU-2 surface-to-air systems from Russia, though there is no indication a deal has been finalized or that missiles have been delivered. The S-300PMU-2 system is designed to counter both aircraft and ballistic missiles.
—Tim Ripley, "Opportunities and risks: Middle East security," Jane's Defense Weekly, 13 March 2008; "Syria seeks Russia missile deals," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 March 2007; Jeremy M.Sharp, "Syria: Background and U.S. Relations," CRS Report for Congress, updated 1 May 2008.
15 April 2008
Reports allege that a Syrian delegation is visiting Russia to inspect the first batch of Pantsyr-S1 (NATO designation: SA-22 "Greyhound") short-range air-defense systems for delivery. The Pantsyr-S1 is a hybrid gun/missile air-defense system capable of being installed on a variety of platforms, including tracked vehicles and surface ships.
—"Syria is getting Russian air-defense system," Reuters, 15 April 2008, ru.reuters.com:80; Miroslav Gyurosi, "Details emerge of Pantsir-S1E hybrid air-defense system," Jane's Missile and Rockets, 1 March 2008; Robin Hughes, "Iran set to obtain Pantsyr via Syria," Jane's Defense Weekly, 23 May, 2007.
19-22 August 2008
Reports of a pending missile deal accompany Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's first meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Asked about the reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expresses openness to a deal but seems to exclude the surface-to-surface Iskander from the equation: "We are ready to deliver weapons to Syria that are used for defense only and are not violating the strategic balance in the region." The Syrian state news agency SANA more explicitly denies that the Iskander is on al-Assad and Medvedev's agenda. The Iskander's range and accuracy have made it of particular concern to Israel. Other systems under discussion reportedly include the surface-to-air S-300, some versions of which have anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
—"Syria: We'll host Russian missile system," Russia Today, 19 August 2008; Khaled Yacoub Oweis, "Syria denies accepting Russian missile deployment," Reuters, 22 August 2008.
20 November 2008
Russia will not export Iskander missiles to Syria or other countries until the Russian military is fully supplied with them, according to Russian news agency Novosti. The Russian military is not expected to receive the missiles it has ordered for a number of years because of production capacity limitations.
—Yaakov Katz, "Russia will not sell Iskander missiles to Syria in near future," The Jerusalem Post, 20 November 2008; Dmitry Solovyov and David Cutler, "Key facts about Russia's Iskander missile," Reuters, 28 January 2009.
3 February 2009
Israeli defense officials worry that Syria will transfer anti-aircraft missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon while the IDF is preoccupied in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak asserts, "We [Israel] are also keeping an eye on the weapons smuggling from Syria to Hezbollah and there are a number of systems that we view as breaking the balance of power that cannot be allowed to be transferred." Barak maintains that in the event of an attack by Hezbollah, Israel would "need to consider its response" but would hold the Lebanese government responsible.
—Ya'aqov Katz, "Israel Fears Syria Might Aid Hezbollah," referenced in "Israel Concerned That Syria Will Give Hezbollah Anti-Aircraft Missiles," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 5 February 2009.
16 October 2009
A Russian Israeli newspaper reported that Syria
purchased Yakhont missiles from the Russian Federation. According to the
article, the missiles were sold to Syria as part of the military cooperation
between Russia and Syria involving the construction of a new port off the coast
of Syria. Soon after the article was released, a Russian defense industry
official made a statement that the Russian Federation did not sell the Yakhont
missiles to Syria. Yakhont missiles are sea-to-sea missiles with a range of over
300 kilometers and a payload of more than 200 kilograms. The Yakhont missiles
are known for their high precision.
—;"Россия
поставила
Сирии
суперсовременные
ракеты для
войны с
Израилем,"
Kursor News Agency, 16 October 2009; "Russian Source Denies Syria Missile
Sale," United Press International, 16 October 2009.
3 November 2009
Israel intercepted the German-owned ship Franco
bound for Syria carrying 2,000 122 mm and 107 mm rockets and 9,000 mortar
rounds. The shipment of weapons left Iran from the port of Bandar Abbas before
being delivered to the Egyptian port of Damietta. From there it was placed
aboard the Franco, which called at the port of Limassol in Cyprus before
departing for Syria. Israeli naval commandos boarded the Franco and
diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashod.
—Doug Richardson, "Israel Intercepts
Iranian Rocket Shipment," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 24
November 2009.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.
