Document Page: First | Prev | Next |
File: 0000002.txtPage: 0002
Total Pages: 2
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.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|