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Israel carried out a missile test on Thursday, January 18, 2008.
In contrast to being illusive on providing information on such
tests, Israel's Defense Ministry confirmed the launch explaining
it was a successful test of a new rocket propulsion system coupled
with a test missile. MOD sources added that following the test,
the system could now be integrated with different missiles.
Various news sources indicated the missile being tested was
the Jericho III, capable of attacking ground targets at a range
beyond 4,000 km. (More...)
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According to foreign sources Israel has
an inventory of Jericho II ballistic missiles, with a range
of 1,500 km, equipped with unconventional warheads. Foreign
sources also reported that in recent years, the country tested
the three-stage Jericho III weapon, capable of reaching targets
at a range of 4,500 km, capable of delivering both conventional
and unconventional payloads, including multiple warheads, weighing
750 - 1,300 kg.
The recent test confirmed the performance of the new solid-rocket
propulsion system, believed to be a three-stage system. It also
validated the performance of the Jericho weapon system, which
was last tested in 2001. Foreign news media claimed Israel conducted
extensive test launches of Jericho missiles in Algeria (under
a secret cooperation with France, which lasted throughout the
1960s). After the French embargo Israel reestablished the test
program under its cooperation with South Africa and used a remote
facility Africa to test its missiles. However, since the close
strategic cooperation with Pretoria ended, missile tests moved
back to Israel and are conducted from Palmachim test center
near Tel Aviv, where every test is clearly visible over the
country's largest metropolis.
Israel has used the Shavit
satellite launcher, claimed to be a three-stage derivative of
the Jericho II missile, to launch satellites of the Ofeq series.
Two satellites were lost as they failed to enter orbit, while
five others were deployed successfully, some remaining operational
in orbit for more than five years. In the past Israel considered
the development of the Next
/ LK-1 satellite launchers, capable of deploying payloads
of up to 350 kg into orbits more than twice higher than the
original Shavit.
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