Hey folks! So much missile stuff lately — the National Academies has released its final report on conventonal prompt global strike and Iran claims to have launched a two stage missile (The Taepo-hab?).
I am in Ithaca attending a technical workshop on space security, surrounding by Geoff Forden, Ted Postol, David Wright and Benn Earthenberm, among others.
For now, though I want to share two more pictures of presumed Russian missile debris from Georgia from a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous.
Other notes on Russian conventional missile options:
- Michael Gordon has an article in the New York Times entitled Missile Launchers Tighten Russia’s Grip on Georgia that quotes American officials as saying Russia has deployed SS-21s in South Ossetia. (That doesn’t prejudice the claim that Russia used longer range missiles that could cover targets in Georgia from Russian territory.)
- GRAU numbers. Our commentators are leaning toward the possible use of the SS-26 based on the 9M723 numerical designation (GRAU number) on what appears to be a solid rocket motor.
- The portion of the rocket body laying across a car — perhaps in Poti — appears to be an SS-21. (I took the Gori designation from a hand gesture by Shota Utiashvili, which was ambiguous. The New York Times has another shot of the car, identified as having occurred in Poti.)
