Iraq is claimed to have acquired covertly guidance elements from the Russian RSM-50 (SS-N-18 Stingray) submarine-launched ballistic missile in support of its own attempts to develop intermediate-range ballistic weaponry.
RSM-50s are being scrapped as a result of US/Russian Start arms-reduction agreements. Iraqi front-companies have successfully acquired guidance subsystems from scrapped missiles, according to Middle Eastern security sources.
The RSM-50 has inertial navigation, coupled with stellar-reference updating, providing it with an accuracy of 900m (3,000ft).
The acquisition of such technology would appear clearly to breach, at least in spirit, United Nations resolutions intended to limit Iraqi missile-development projects to short-range weapons only.
The sources indicate that the guidance systems would be of little use in any Iraqi attempt to upgrade its own Scud-derivative missiles, but could be intended for greater-range weapons. Iraq is known to harbour aspirations to acquire an intermediate-range weapons.
Source: Flight International