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Country: Iraq
Type: medium-range ballistic missile
Introduction: 1988 |
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The origins of the Al-Hussein could be traced back to the first stages of the war with Iran. The Iranian forces, after suffering a heavy attrition of their aircraft, had made an extensive use of Scud B missiles, which can hit a target 185 miles away. Key Iraqi cities like Sulaymaniya, Kirkuk, and Baghdad itself came within the range of this weapon. Iraq, which also deployed Scuds B, was conversely unable to strike the main Iranian industrial centers, including the capital, Teheran, because these are located more than 300 miles from the border.
To surmount the Iranian advantage, Iraqi engineers designed a program to upgrade the original Scuds into a series of ballistic missiles whose range would surpass 500 miles. The assembly facility was located near Taji. The first development, called Al-Hussein or Project 1728, with a range of 400 miles, allowed the Iraqi army to attack deep inside the Iranian boundaries. The range was extended by reducing the original 945 kg warhead to 500 kg and increasing the propellant capacity. The warhead carried HE, although it had Chemical, Biological and Nuclear capabilities.
Up to 200 missiles were launched against Iran between 1987 and 1988, killing some 2,000 people. Eighty-eight of these modified Scuds were fired at Saudi Arabia (46) and Israel (42) during January and February 1991.
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| General Information |
| Developed by |
Iraq |
| Deployed by |
Iraq |
| Development Year |
early 1980s |
| Deployment Year |
1988 |
| Platform |
Al Waleed 8-wheel TEL, MAZ 543P and Al Nida (Dimler-Benz trailer), and fixed launcher (steel support ring mounted on a concrete base) |
| Number manufactured |
about 400+ (Scud b convert) |
| Number deployed |
about 500 |
| Dimensions and Performance |
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Length |
12.46m |
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Body Diameter |
88cm |
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Launch Weight |
6,600kg |
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Range |
600km |
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Altitude |
150km(apogee) |
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Accuracy |
1,000m CEP |
| Components |
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Propulsion |
1-stage liquid propellant |
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Engine |
burn-time: 85sec |
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Payload |
single warhead 500kg |
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Warhead |
HE, chemical or biological |
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Guidance |
Inertial |
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