Report: Israel test fired nuclear
capable, sub-launched cruise
missiles
By Douglas Davis
LONDON (June 19) - Israel secretly test-fired
cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear
weapons off the coast of Sri Lanka last month, the
Sunday Times of London reported yesterday.
Quoting Israeli defense sources, the paper reported
that the tests were conducted from two
German-built, Dolphin-class submarines and
involved Israeli-made missiles equipped with
conventional warheads hitting targets at sea at a
range of about 1,500 kilometers.
The sources were quoted as saying the launches
were intended to simulate swift retaliation against a
preemptive nuclear attack from Iran.
Israel is only the third country - after America and
Russia - to acquire the ability to fire
nuclear-capable cruise missiles from submarines.
The navy dismissed the report. "The report is
baseless. This kind of test firing did not take place,"
said a statement by the IDF Spokesman.
Nevertheless, reports of the Dolphin's
cruise-missile capability continue to surface in the
foreign press. Israel has never admitted that it has
any cruise missiles and has sought Tomahawks from
the US, which has so far rejected the request.
However, according to Jane's Defense Weekly,
Israel has modified the Popeye Turbo into an
air-launched cruise missile with a range of over
200 km. The Popeye was developed and built by
Rafael, which has a sophisticated missile
development division.
TAAS-Israel Industries has also developed the
air-launched Delilah cruise missile, which has a
range of 400 km.
The Dolphin has 10 multi-purpose torpedo tubes
which are designed for 21-inch diameter weapons.
The submarines, which were origi…
Дальше »»»