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Posted on 06/15/2002 3:38:42 PM PDT by Enemy Of The State
'Washington Post': Israeli subs have nuclear cruise missiles Former US military and State Department officials told The Washington Post yesterday that Israel is arming three submarines with cruise missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. This could give Israel a sea-based alternative to land- or air-based nuclear weapons, the paper reported. Israel has refused in the past to divulge whether it has nuclear weapons, but American analysts claim it has a small atomic arsenal. According to Pentagon officials, Israel tested these new cruise missiles in 2000 in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, the paper reported. These tests were monitored by the US Navy, the sources told The Washington Post. Israel's sea-based nuclear capabilities could counter Iraqi and Iranian efforts to develop missiles capable of destroying its weapons, the paper said. The report follows the publication of a book by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace stipulating Israel had made attempts to arm its diesel submarines with nuclear missiles. According to the book, Israel had tested the sea-launched, 1,440-kilometer range cruise missiles in May 2000, the paper reported. The paper quoted Joseph Ciricione, co-author of the book and an endowment official, as saying: "Probably the most important nuclear-related development in Israel is the formation of its sea-based nuclear arm." Two years ago, on June 19, 2000, The Jerusalem Post carried a report by the Sunday Times of London that the Israel Navy had secretly test-fired cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of Sri Lanka. The IDF Spokesman denied the report.
The submarines, the cruise missles, or just the nuclear warheads? :)
Imal
For example the Granit SS-N-19 Cruise missiles deployed on Russian Oscar 2 SSGNs ( a nuclear powered sub that carries strategic cruise missiles instead of SLBMs) had to be changed from a nuclear payload to a high-explosive one.
I guess from the article that only the US and Russia had to comply with the parameters of the treaties (for example the Us had to change its air launched cruise missiles into conventional air launched cruise missiles). So does this mean any other nation can go ahead and develop these capabilities?
That was on TCM the other night. Godawful film. Rollerball and Soylent Green last night---awesome.
Clearly any nation not a signatory to the treaty is not bound by it.
On top of that, Israel does not admit to having nuclear weapons. Why would they be a party to this treaty?
Are India and Pakistan bound by this treaty?
While I can't say that I like the idea of Israel having nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles, it does appear to be a logical move for Israel. When your entire country is about the size of New Jersey and is surrounded by unpredictable enemies, an "ace in the hole" is a usefule thing to have.
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