Extensive infrastructure developments are evident in the following satellite imagery, obtained by the Israeli Eros-B satellite. The images are superimposed on an earlier image, available through Google Earth, taken around 2007.

The Safir satellite launcher erected, ready to launch from the active launch pad at Semnan. Photo: Imagesat.

East of the active site, the Iranians are constructing a new, larger launch site, designed for the launch of much larger missiles than the current Ashura or Safir. Photo: Imagesat.

Another new facility at Semnan is the missile integration center, where payloads are fitted to the missile. (such as the Omid satellite launched earlier this year). Photo: Imagesat

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Sejjil-2 missile unveiled during Iran's president visit at Semnan Missile & Space Center. (more images from IRNA)

Iran Tests Second Solid-Fuelled Sejjil Missile, Capable of 2,000 km

Iran has successfully test-fired a Sejjil-2 medium-range surface-to-surface missile, a solid-fuelled missile developed in Iran (with North Korean assistance). This missile is also known by the names Ghadr-110 and Samen. The missile is capable of striking targets at ranges beyond 2,000 km (1242 miles) carrying a 1.2 ton warhead. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confirmed the news on a visit to Iran's space and missile center at Semnan, from where the missile was launched. US pentagon sources confirmed the launch was successful indicating that according to initial data, the missile profile correlates with the larger Ashura (Ghadr-110) missile, with a range of 2,000 to 3,000 km (1,200-1,900 miles).

Iran began testing large solid-fuelled missiles in 2008. Such missiles are considered more versatile and survivable since they are stored with fuel, ready-to-launch on a moment's notice offering quick response capability as soon as the Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL) reaches the designated launch spot. Since preparations do not require fuelling the missile, the pre-launch process is quick and difficult to detect, thus, making these missiles much less vulnerable to pre-emptive strike.

Uzi Rubin, the founder of Israel's missile defense program, assesses Iran will gradually replace its liquid-propelled Shahab missiles with solid-fuelled Sejjil-2 to improve the survivability and agility of their strategic missile forces. Charles P. Vick, Senior Technical Analyst at Globalsecurity.org noted that the external dimensions of the new missile fit in the same logistic envelop as the Shahab-3B, 3C series lands mobile TEL.

Sejjil missiles are covering the entire area of Israel, Saudi-Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, from launch positions in central Iran. Rubin estimates that Iran will be able to extend its missile strike capability to 3,000 km by the end of the decade, with strike capability reaching well into central Europe. Indications of the preparations for a new launch site, much larger than the current launch pad at Shemnan are evident from satellite imagery obtained by Defense Update.

In the photo: Sejjil 2 launched from Shemnan, November 2008.