Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

England think-tank said Iran from China, at least three short-range missiles

Strategic and International Research Center recently published an article saying that if the US-Iraq war, Iran extensive use of anti-ship missiles, the possibility of very high. Iranian anti-ship missile inventory is almost entirely by Chinese-made missiles composition. In addition to the last century, Iran received from the Chinese HY-1 “,” HY-2 “anti-ship missile, at least from China receive three short-range missiles, including the C-701, JJ/TL- 6 and C-704 anti-ship missiles. The article speculated that Tehran may still rely on the key components of these missiles.

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The article said that Iran can blockade Huo or blocking traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? The EU has recently decided that the purposes of the oil embargo against Iran, leading to Tehran has threatened to shut down the world’s most important oil transportation hub. However, in the assessment of the regional military power and the warring parties may use tactics, it was discovered that Iran is difficult to cut off the traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2011, daily 17 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, 35% of the total global oil exports. Iran is heavily dependent on oil transport in the Strait: about 70 percent of government revenue from oil exports, its oil output is fully subject to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has not laid to its Indian Ocean ports or east side of the country’s oil pipelines.

the end of 2011 and early 2012, held by the Iranian Navy and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to focus on the naval blockade “Advantage 90″ (Velayat-90) series of exercises. Although Iran holds the interruption or temporary interruption of the ability of the Strait of Hormuz, but the long blockade of the Strait.

Iran’s ability to

article said that Iran’s surface fleet is smaller, only six of the limited capacity of the frigate, so Iran can not control Hall Wood strait and its surrounding areas. Therefore, Iran is unlikely to choose to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and may take the strategy of denial, attacks drop ship single or defensive capacity is low. , Mines, torpedoes, rockets and anti-ship missile is a key weapon in the use of such tactics. In order to avoid direct conflict, Iran’s military might deployed attack submarines and fast attack boats at sea, or anti-ship missiles launched from land-use flatbed trucks and the United States or countries in the region ships. In order to improve the winning chances of the Iranian military will use the air-launched weapons – especially as an integral part of the joint military operations.

the United States and the region of Arab States, the military’s advanced air defense capability can prevent Iran deployed air power against the Persian Gulf region. However, the Iranian Air Force does have the ability to use Russian-made Su-24 fighter-bombers of “swordsman” (FENCER) and the growing old of the F-4 “Phantom” fighter attack action. Iran has begun to integrate anti-ship missile for the F-4 fighters, believed to also launched a similar effort is being done for the Su-24 fighter.

This tactic is similar to the late manifestation of the “tanker war”. Throughout 1980-1988, the Iran-Iraq war and culminate in 1984, carrying Iran or Iraq/Iraq’s Arab allies Oil Ships and offshore platforms, have become targets. For Strategic and International Research Center data show that in 1984-1988, a total of 259 oil tankers and other ships under attack. Iraq, mainly through the aircraft, in particular – “Mirage F-1 fighters and Super Etendard fighter – launch of the legal system” Exocet “missile attack, Iran’s weapons systems, ammunition fired by helicopter, anti-ship missiles (developed by the “Silkworm” missile), rocket-propelled grenades and small amount of torpedoes.

Missile threat

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The article said that the historical experience of the tanker war, coupled with the existing Iranian military capabilities, the United States and its allied forces must carefully consider the anti-ship missiles. Iranian anti-ship missile inventory missiles constitute almost all made in China. The last century, the 1980s, China began to provide Iran with weapons, although Washington is constantly put pressure on to the Beijing, but the Iraqi weapons supply has not stopped. It is believed that Iran initially received from the Chinese HY -1 (CSSC-2 “Silkworm” type) and the Seahawks -2 (CSSC-3 “bubble sand”) anti-ship missiles. Period of the “tanker war” in the Strait of Hormuz, the deployment of Coast defensive the type CSSC-2/CSSC-3 missile. In the 1990s, Iran’s acquisition of C-801 (CSS-N-4 “sardines”) missile and longer range C-802 (CSSC-8 Saccade) missile. These missiles have been deployed in ships, as well as part of the missile from the car, the implementation of coastal defense missions. C-802 is often called the “Noor,” missile, but Tehran is often used with a name to refer to the missile.

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The article said that Iran has at least three short-range missile systems procured from China. Iran Kesa Er “(Kosar,) weapons family includes the C-701 (of Kisa three and Kisa 1) and Hongdu Group R & D JJ/TL-6 anti-ship missiles, while Nasr, and Nasr, 2 is equivalent to Chinese C-704 missiles. Similar C-801/C-802 missile Kesa Er, and Nasr also can be deployed on multiple platforms, including the fast-attack patrol boats and trucks. Iranian media has publicly Kosar and Nasr missile assembly lines and parts, but now Tehran may still rely on the key components of these missiles. Other missile may also have to battle. Iran claims the Ghader advantages -90 “(Velayat-90) during the exercise test-fired anti-ship missiles. The missile to the C-802 series missile (perhaps consistent with the C-802A), is a long-range missiles, and install it on a frequency agile radar seeker, making it less susceptible to the attacks of anti-radar devices. China has previously pointed out that the range of 180 km in the C-802A, C-802 has a range of 120 km. Comparative data, as well as product manuals, the C-701 theoretical maximum range of 25 km and 38 km in the C-704. However, it is unclear Ra’ad missiles already in service. In addition, relevant departments have begun to C-801/C-802 missile is equipped with fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Iran has also improved the Sea the Killer/Marte the Mk1 anti-ship missiles, and to install a TV seeker. This may provide a space-based anti-ship weapons for Iran, though it is unclear whether it is already in service and perform this task.

a variety of launch systems can be used to launch these weapons. Which are mainly small boats, such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) 25 Peykaap-II-class missile boats, the boat speed can more than 50, can carry two Kosar missile Nasr. Despite the engine size, these boats sail away, and difficult navigation in the maritime environment is difficult, but they are still efficient coastal combat boats. Because of the small stature of the relationship, they do not need to run naval base in Strait of Hormuz, Bandar Abbas (in Bandar-e the Abbas), and be able to use any of the existing pier. For example, in Hormuz Gorge, controlled by the Iranian islands (Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Tunb Island) there is relevant marine facilities to support the action of these small boats. Once sent a speedboat and combined with the use of swarm tactics, Iran’s naval forces in the vicinity of any emergency preparedness and response measures, within a few minutes to reach the target location. Iranians also can launch enough missiles, sinking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, the larger body but the speed is still fast patrol boats, for example, 10 of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “Sandor (Thondor), patrol boats can carry a C-802 missiles, or the Navy’s 13 ship “Carmen” (Kaman)-class boats can carry 2-4 missiles Noor missile, they can also provide Iran with a potentially deadly attack capabilities, although the larger shape make them vulnerable to attack. Moreover, the work of land-based transmitters may cause anti-ship missile defense has become more complex, because they can be placed anywhere on the coast, and launch the missile can also be moved so that these missiles can not easily be found and destroyed.

counterattack Iran’s missile

United States and Europe can be a powerful navy exists to respond to the action of those attacks, the Strait of Hormuz oil tankers. In fact, the Persian Gulf has many assets that can be used to carry out such a response action. Currently, the U.S. Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain in the region to maintain two aircraft carrier battle group, an amphibious squadron, a support mine clearance task force, the existence of the special forces of a submarine and a logistics task force. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard is also Bahrain stationed six boats in the US-led Joint Task Force, but also from Britain, France and Saudi Arabia, the Navy’s assets. Although you can try to pre-emptive attack in the Gulf of Iran’s small boats, but from the point of view to take the initiative associated with the risk of escalation of the situation, sending a security team to protect oil tankers and other commercial vessels are more likely to

“tanker war” Tanker War, experience has shown that, using this guard system could be a success: from July 1987 to December 1988, the U.S. Navy escorted 252 vessels, in this during only one merchant ships damaged – the first guard on the way, “Brighton” oil tanker hit a mine damaged, but it can still continue driving; the ship originally belonged to Kuwait, and later became an oil tanker in the U.S.. As a guard system a part of the 1987-88 year, the British naval vessels through the sides of the strait of Hormuz is the number for 1026. In view of the average every day, 14 super tanker through the Strait guard system, consisting of vessels from several countries, escorted to the squad in the form of past oil tankers, every day two or three times, this looks a feasible method.

However, command and control of this guard action, or other joint response measures, may become a thorny political issue; It is unclear whether the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have sufficient capacity to perform this complex task. If Washington is prudent to assume command of the task, it seemed possible the formation of a broad participation by the U.S. command structure.

value of

guard system is not only reflected in the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet deployed Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga) class cruisers and Arleigh – Burke (Arleigh Burke) class destroyers missile defense. SM-2 and Improved Sea Sparrow air defense system and the Phalanx close combat weapon system can provide the main tool to deal with air and missile threats.

However, if Iran using small boats to expand swarm tactics, and space-based and land-based missile support, then the frigate ship may then not be able to respond to all incoming artillery. May want to guard naval forces, their presence alone will be able to prevent the attack of the Strait of Hormuz – and of course, Iran carried out any attacks will become their reprisals against reason. During the “tanker war”, the U.S. Navy vessels only by a destruction – April 1988, the United States, “Samuel – Roberts frigate by a mine attack of Iran. This incident resulted in the United States launched the “praying mantis prey action: two surface battle groups in the United States to attack the coastal platform, and then conducted a series of attacks, resulting in the Iranian frigate, a” Carmen “class patrol boats and three ships fast attack boat sank.

outside in addition to missiles, Iran also can use the torpedo. Iran’s submarines by 18 (but 15 of the fleet of small submarines) constitutes an effective underwater threats. However, in order to attack Iran’s submarines need to avoid the powerful anti-submarine warfare systems, reconnaissance in the U.S. and its allies of the Arab forces, which may be easier in the shallow water, but in the deeper waters of the Persian Gulf will become more difficult.

Strait Bray

Bray is perhaps the best tactics available in Iran, either blockade of the waters, while avoiding direct engagement with enemy forces. Mine is a cheap weapon, but it can play a significant role: Iran’s M-08 mines to destroy the U.S. $ 1.5 billion worth of “Samuel-B-Roberts’ escort destroyer’s hull, causing $ 96 million losses.

It is estimated that the Iranian Navy 2000-3000 mines, most of them from the Soviet Union or China. These mines are tethered mines and sink to the bottom of mines, by contact and induction (induction sound environment, magnetic fields or water pressure, etc. Description of ships change) and detonated. Thousands of mines and a few days to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, you may need. Iran can use the “Kilo” class submarines, the submarine can carry 24 mines. But more large-scale mine-laying operations may need to use small boats and merchant ships. While this approach is easy to be found, but within a few hours to deploy hundreds of mines should have a great effect.

However, the anti-mine measures available in the U.S. and allied forces in the Persian Gulf is far superior to the 1980s. For example, the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, there are four “Avenger” class minesweepers, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and the UAE Navy materials may also be mobilized. Nevertheless, mine clearance is a time-consuming: It may take a few days time to open a mine-free channel, a few weeks to clear the entire Strait of mine. The frigate also is not necessarily to prevent mines to undermine its escort merchant ships, because some mines programming, only in the second or third vessel after detonation.

enough mines is difficult to deploy in a short time, so mine may not be able to block the entire Strait. The mines in the Persian Gulf in the 1980s did not prevent the continuous traffic. Nevertheless, the fear of mines may be cut off most of the waters of the traffic. For Tehran, this will cause problems of its own. Missile attack has its advantages, discrimination, and therefore allows ships to avoid attack Iran or Iran specified. Adversely affect traffic throughout the Strait of Bray will cut off Iran’s fragile economy, Iran.

the other considerations

at sea denial strategy, Iran has two choices. The first one is to send small vessels to carry out bomb attacks on oil tankers, the goal is the sinking of the vessel or cause a potential oil spill, clear the first of the kind of oil, the region will not be able to pass. Such action would involve one or more ships, small boats packed with explosives, is likely to perform the suicide mission, similar to the Japanese tanker M Star’s failed attack in July 2010. Use a boat carrying 1000 kg of explosives near the tanker and penetrate the hull of the operational challenges are still very obvious.

Tehran’s second option is not for the Strait of Hormuz, but against the vessels of the distant Persian Gulf, just like the Iran-Iraq war during the tanker war. With this approach, can more easily avoid direct conflict with build-up in the Strait around the United States or other navy. Vessels moored in the Persian Gulf is the most vulnerable to attack. Action taken in the Persian Gulf may not like the effect of attacks in the Straits so obvious, but it is easy to reach.

opponent’s military capability more powerful, but Iran in the Persian Gulf, there is still a lot of military options. Although these choices can not be achieved blockade of the Strait to reach the level of threat, but it can greatly disrupt shipping – but it can also lead to hostile reactions. (Compiled: Spring) ★

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