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9. IRAQ HAS AN INVENTORY OF AN ESTIMATED 50 SlLKWORMS THAT
HAVE A MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 NM (FUEL
EXHAUSTION RANGE 60 NM). DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, IRAQ LAUNCHED
SILKWORMS AGAlNST OIL TANKERS TRANSITING TO BANDAR KHOMEINI BUT HAD
LITTLE SUCCESS BECAUSE THE MISSILES WERE USED AT THE EDGE OF THEIR
RANGE ENVELOPES. APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 10 MISSILES HIT ITS TARGET.
ALTHOUGH IRAQ HAS NOT FIRED A SILKWORM SINCE 1985, THE NAVY PROBABLY
HAS THE CAPABILITY TO USE THE SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY AT SHORTER RANGES.
10. THE IRAQI NAVY HAS A SMALL CONTINGENT OF SEVEN SUPER
FRELON HELICOPTERS, FOUR OF WHICH MAY BE OPERATIONAL. THE SUPER
FRELONS CARRY THE AM-39 EXOCET ANTISURFACE MISSILE AND, WITH A
COMBAT RADIUS OF APPROXIMATELY 150 NM, THREATEN SHIPPING IN THE
NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF. SUPER FRELONS OPERATED WITH SOME SUCCESS
AGAINST MERCHANT CONVOYS TRANSITING TO BANDAR KHOMEINI DURING THE
WAR.
OUTLOOK
11. THE IRAQI NAVY IS A COASTAL DEFENSE FORCE THAT CANNOT
EFFECTIVELY OPERATE FAR FROM TERRITORIAL WATERS. ITS SHIPS,
AIRCRAFT, AND COASTAL DEFENSE MISSILES POSE A MINIMAL THREAT TO US
NAVAL FORCES. NONETHELESS, IRAQ CAN COVERTLY DEPLOY A VARIETY OF
BOTTOM-INFLUENCE AND MOORED-CONTACT MINES THAT WOULD CREATE A HXZARD
TO ALL SHIPPING IN THE GULF.
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