Saudis Buy Advanced Nuclear-Capable Missiles in China

[iPakMan]

US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon is the second high-ranking American official to visit Riyadh in less than a week. He landed Tuesday, April 12, just six days after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Saudi King Abdullah ended a stormy interview which failed to bridge the widening gap between Washington and Riyadh.

For the second interview, the monarch was attended by three top royal advisers, all hawks and live wires in security and external affairs: Director of General Intelligence Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and Saudi Ambassador to the US Adel Jubeir.

The ambassador, who is important enough to the king to spend more time in the royal palace in Riyadh than at his post in Washington, was the only one of the three to be present at the meeting with Gates.

Our Gulf intelligence sources report that by calling in his most influential advisers, Abdullah was telling Washington:

1. That he attaches supreme importance to Saudi relations with the United States;

2. That he will not be moved from the independent foreign and security policies he has set in train – whether or not they meet with American approval. In pursuing them, Princes Muqrin and Bandar and Ambassador Jubeir enjoy his full backing.

According to our sources, the three advisers have been given their assignments: Muqrin is focusing on Iran, Yemen, Libya and Al Qaeda. Bandar deals with Saudi Arabia’s foreign military relations – excepting the US – and is managing the comparison shopping for advanced weapons among multiple suppliers. Ambassador Jubeir’s job is to advise the king and represent Saudi positions on matters of common interest to the US administration.

Saudis buy advanced Chinese nuclear-capable missiles

Bandar recently paid a secret visit to China and clinched terms for CSS-3 DF-3 ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads to replace the hardware Saudi Arabia bought from China in the 1980s.

US intelligence discovered the first transaction in 1988 when those Chinese missiles were installed outside Riyadh and positioned to face Tehran. Our intelligence and military sources reveal the transaction Bandar negotiated provides for the sale of two types of Chinese missiles: the DF-21 (NATO-designated CSS-5), which is a two-stage, solid-propellant, single-warhead medium-range ballistic (MRBM) system developed by China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronis Technology Academy.

The DF-21 is capable of delivering a 500kT nuclear warhead over a distance of 1,800 km. Its purchase underlines the Saudi royal family’s determination to have its own nuclear arms and missiles ready for launch in the face of an approaching nuclear-armed Iran.

The second missile, the DongFeng 15 (Export name M-9; NATO-designation CSS-6) is a solid-fuel, short-range ballistic (SRBM) system developed by CASC China Academy of Rocket Motor Technology ARMT, the 4th Space Academy.

Our information is that the Saudis purchased the improved variants of DongFeng 15 B and DongFeng 15C, recently sighted in service with China’s Popular Liberation Army (PLA). During the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, those variants, which were launched as a warning to Taiwan, won a reputation for accuracy and effectiveness.

Saudis Buy Advanced Nuclear-Capable Missiles from China :: The Wall Street Shuffle

 

[Kompromat]

They already have some Ballistic missiles , anyway good for them.

 

[REEVER]

Lol Iran a country run by loons and fanatics ( mullahs sp*?) is no reason to have nukes the second they start to move us will pick them up and rip apart there forces.

You don't need nukes

 

[Jigs]

I think SA is just making sure if Iran made the move they would have what they need in place to match them. I doubt they would need to though. It isn't like Iran will last once it is out they have nuclear weapons.

 

[Abii]

Lol Iran a country run by loons and fanatics ( mullahs sp*?) is no reason to have nukes the second they start to move us will pick them up and rip apart there forces.

You don't need nukes

lol
the same loons who decided not to respond in kind when Saddam was using WMDs in the Iran-Iraq war? The same weapons given to Saddam by your govt and other Western govts?
the same loons who are supporting legitimate organizations such as Hezbollah, who are voted into office in elections by the people of Lebanon? This is while your country supports people like Taliban and other fanatical terrorist organizations such as the MKO.

Give it a rest buddy, the lunatics and fanatics are you guys who have been waging war all over the world over the past century. You guys have used nukes and have thousands more at your disposal. Iran neither has nukes, nor wants nukes. Iran hasn't started a war in more than 300 years! That's almost longer than your country has been around.

 

[pmukherjee]

So China is supplying critical military items to both the parties to the conflict!!! Doesn't this give the Iranians all the more reason to nuclearise rapidly and also develop their ballistic missiles. BTW, does n't the transfer of DF - 21 contravene the MTCR?

 

[JonAsad]

Iran is just a diversion- I believe the intended target is Israel- Agree to Disagree and move on-

 

[iPakMan]

I disagree GR since Israel would never allow it and neither will Israel allow Iran to acquire Nukes. Agree or disagree but in the end Israel does what it deems necessary for her security. Even if Uncle Sam won`t agree to it. KSA can acquire a hundred ballistic missiles as long as KSA remembers who already has a hundred ballistic missiles ready and waiting.

 

[applesauce]

So China is supplying critical military items to both the parties to the conflict!!! Doesn't this give the Iranians all the more reason to nuclearise rapidly and also develop their ballistic missiles. BTW, does n't the transfer of DF - 21 contravene the MTCR?

MTCR doesnt apply because SA is a US ally

 

[tallboy123]

Saudi has nuclear warheads??

 

[Skull and Bones]

Saudi has nuclear warheads??

No, they have missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads

 

[tallboy123]

how can they sell ballistic missiles? Isn't it violation of missile non-proliferation treaty?

if saudi's doesn't have nuke wat's the use of ballistic missile,they could use cruise missiles to deliver conventional warheads

 

[Zarvan]

how can they sell ballistic missiles? Isn't it violation of missile non-proliferation treaty?

if saudi's doesn't have nuke wat's the use of ballistic missile,they could use cruise missiles to deliver conventional warheads

sir nobody dare rufuse Saudi Arabia because china will than into trouble with lot of muslim countries and that is what china doesnt want and I think Saudi Arabia should by these missiles as many as they can and yes saudi arabias main focus never has been Iran they are just using the Iranin tactic to get more weapons even with the opposition made by Israel

 

[tallboy123]

is Saudi going to use conventional warhead on ballistic missile?????

 

[Khalid Al-Qurashi]

Slam Alaikum .. if it wasn't for Saddam the us would never sell us Abrams , bradley or even the f-15 C and D.

Saudi Arabia bought many DF missiles back in the 80's from china .. when the CIA knew about it they were told its for the Iraqi threat .

no single DF missile was launched to Iraq even though Saddam's missiles hit Riyadh . the us asked King Fahd to fire his missiles but he replied " Our war is against Saddam not the Iraqi people" .

right now theres 2 countries considered as a threat to the kingdom after Saddam is gone .. Israel and Iran .
if it was not for Iran that would mean its for Israel and the us would never let that happen .

Saudi Arabia has been practicing this policy for over a decade now to get its Arms deals done . khamenei's policy turned to be beneficial after all