Syria boosts accuracy of its Scud D missile
By Ze'ev Schiff , Haaretz Correspondent 4 December 2005
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/653195.html

Syria has introduced significant changes in the advanced model of the Scud D
missile that give it greater guidance capability and accuracy, according to
Western missile experts.

The evaluations were based on an examination of pieces of a Scud D missile
that went off course after a test launch and landed in southern Turkey.

The launch took place a few months ago, but it took some time until all the
pieces were analyzed.

Meanwhile, Israel launched a successful Arrow missile Friday that
intercepted a mock-up of an Iranian Shihab-3 missile. The goal of the test,
the 14th launch of the Arrow, which is manufactured by the Rafael Armament
Development Authority, was to expand its range to a higher altitude and to
evaluate the interface between the Arrow and the Patriot missile system,
which is to go into operation if the Arrow fails to shoot down its target.

Syria, in apologizing to the Turkish government after Ankara lodged a harsh
protest over the Scud D launch, claimed that the mishap had resulted from
human error. The missile landed in an open area, and no damage nor injuries
were reported.

Two of the three Syrian missiles, which were launched from a site north of
Haleb, were of the advanced D model, which has a range of 650 kilometers.
The third missile was a Scud B, which has a 300-kilometer range.

Both the Turkish press and international media picked up the story of the
errant Syrian Scud, engendering a great deal of interest in the U.S. and
other countries following missile developments in the Middle East.

Turkey, a member of NATO, is closely following the development of
land-to-land missiles both in Iran and Syria.

The warhead of the Scud D separates from its body on its way to the target.
Course deviations in the warhead can be corrected with the addition of small
wings of the same type found on SA-2 surface-to-air missiles, making the
improved Scud much more accurate and allowing it to be aimed at smaller
targets.

The upgrading of the Syrian Scud, advances in Iranian missiles and the test
launch of the Israeli Arrow demonstrate that Syria and Iran are working on
improving their missile capabilities. Israel, for its part, is focusing on
its defensive capabilities.

The target of the Arrow test was launched from an Israel Airforce F-15
flying not far from Greece. The Arrow intercepted the target missile about
10 kilometers from the Israeli coast. "The success of the test improves
existing operational capabilities of the Arrow system, which can
successfully deal with future threats," Ya'akov Toren, director-general of
the Defense Ministry, said.