The Al Fahd 300 was an Iraqi solid-propelled short-range ballistic missile[1][2] that was based on the Soviet S-75 Dvina surface-to-air missile.[1] Its expected range was 300 km, which violated the limits provided by UNSC 687 which stipulated that Iraq was only allowed to have missiles with a range lower than 150 km.[2] The missile project was thus halted and declared abandoned by 1993.[citation needed]
| Al Fahd 300 | |
|---|---|
 An Al Fahd missile captured during the Iraq war | |
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | Iraq |
| Service history | |
| In service | Project abandoned[1][2] |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Al Fahd 300 Al Fahd 500 |
| Specifications | |
| Diameter | 600 mm booster[2] 500 mm sustainer[2] |
| Engine | SA-2 Volga engine[1] |
| Payload capacity | 190 kg[2] |
| Propellant | solid propellant[1] |
Operational range | Al Fahd 300:300 km[1] Al Fahd 500:500 km[1] |
| References | |
Development and operational history
editIn August 1991 Iraq secretly started work on the J-1 surface-to-surface missile based on the S-75 Dvina without notifying UNSCOM.[1] During the development of the missile the Ababil-100 had already been declared and Iraq later on admitted to hiding its Fahd missile project with the Ababil-100 as similarities would be observed between J-1 and Ababil-100.[1] Iraq had declared the project abandoned in May 1993, and had had six tests between January and April 1993 and provided UNSCOM details.[1] Iraq had declared the range to be 134 km but UNSCOM could not verify it.[1] Lt.Gen Hussein Kamel al-Majid had issued the orders for the project and its secrecy.[1] 21 flight tests were claimed overall and the UNSCOM ordered the destruction for 9 of such missiles.[2]
Al Fahd 500
editThe 500 km range version although being displayed at the 1989 Baghdad arms exposition did not reach the design stage and according to Pentagon Opinion was a mock-up for a propaganda campaign.[2]
See also
edit- Qaher-1, a Houthi surface-to-surface missile also based on S-75 Dvina
- Prithvi-I, an Indian surface-to-surface missile also based on S-75 Dvina
- Al Fat'h solid propelled missile with some similarities
- Al Samoud liquid propelled missile with some similarities
References
edit