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
TypeShort-range ballistic missile
Place of originIraq
Service history
In serviceProject abandoned[1][2]
Production history
VariantsAl Fahd 300
Al Fahd 500
Specifications
Diameter600 mm booster[2]
500 mm sustainer[2]

EngineSA-2 Volga engine[1]
Payload capacity190 kg[2]
Propellantsolid propellant[1]
Operational
range
Al Fahd 300:300 km[1]
Al Fahd 500:500 km[1]
References

Development and operational history

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In 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

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The 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Al Fahd 300/J-1-Iraq Special Weapons". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Iraq's Missile Program Profile". Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018.