January
26, 2007: Iran recently announced more "test firings" of its missiles. This was
done largely for PR purposes, and to give domestic morale a boost. Also firing
the rockets enables the builders to verify quality control, and gives the
troops some practical experience. The two missiles fired in this round of
"tests" are the Fajr-5 and the Zalzal.
The
Fajr-5 is a one ton guided missile based the old Soviet unguided artillery
rockets ( the larger ones). Fajr-5 has a range of about 75 kilometers and a 200
pound warhead. The guidance system is crude, and the Fajr-5 will land up to
kilometer from its aim point. The Zalzal is based the old Soviet unguided FROG
series, and is no more accurate than the Fajr-5, weighs three tons, has a 1,400
pound warhead and a range of about 200 kilometers. Both of these missiles use
solid fuel and, by U.S. standards, decades old technology. Neither of these
rockets are very effective against military targets, unless they are fired at
one of the huge American bases in Iraq, or a large urban area.
