From ARES

 

Has Hamas Tested a C-802 Shore-to-Ship Missile off Gaza?

Posted by David Eshel at 2/2/2009 9:42 AM CST

 

Israeli military analysts have revealed what could become a formidable addition to Hamas' arsenal: The missile fired from Gaza out to the Mediterranean last week and shown on Israel TV as a Hamas display, was not a Qassam as reported but could be a modified version of a Chinese C-802, possibly an Iranian shore-to-ship Nur C-802 missile, which is based on the Chinese "Silkworm."

 

Chinese C-802 shore-to-ship missile launched

 

A C-802 shore-to-ship missile was fired during the Second Lebanon War from Beirut beach hitting the rear section of the Israeli Navy Ship Hanit causing extensive damage. According to unconfirmed reports from a source close to Israeli intelligence, Iran has upgraded the C-802 in an important respect. Then, Hezbollah fully depended on the Lebanese army's sophisticated shore based radar for accurate targeting of the Israeli warship. Experts believe that Iran's missile scientists have come up with a unique version that operates without radar - and has the attributes of a cruise missile: It has small radar reflect, is armed with a strong anti-jamming capability and can skim as low as 5-7 meters from the water's surface under the targeted ship's radar. If proved true, this could pose an extremely difficult challenge to Israel's naval and scientific community.

 

C-802 missile on display, photos Iranian official

 

The mysterious missile launch was shown on Israel TV with dubious explanation as a new Qassam rocket test after cease fire. But experts are investigating the images to find evidence of an unidentified land-to-sea weapon, which could be a version of the C-802. Although defense experts doubt that such a weapon, due to its size could have been smuggled into Gaza through the tunnel system, there have been rumors of more sophisticated ordnance having been floated to Gaza in watertight containers dropped out of reach from the Israeli naval blockade.

 

Hamas is extremely concerned with latest Egyptian efforts to block the borderline at Rafah to tunnel smuggling, using sophisticated listening and scanning devices supplied by the US and Germany. The Mediterranean coast could become a suitable alternative, if an effective shore-to-ship weapon could be deployed and fired from a well concealed site, out of sight from the Israeli UAVs, challenging the Israeli naval surveillance by threatening them with such a sophisticated weapon system, which had already made its mark on the Israeli navy in 2006 .

 

It was then launched by Iranian officers who are now allegedly training Hamas operatives in its use before delivering a small consignment. With its 120-km range and 165-kilo warhead, the C-802's mission would be to break Israel's 40 km blockade off Gaza's shoreline. This now seems the key objective of Tehran and the Palestinian Islamists in order to keep the ordnance supplies flowing into the depleted Hamas weapons depots, destroyed by Operation Cast Lead.

 

Since 2006, military experts note, Iran has upgraded the C-802 in an important respect. Then, Hizballah depended on the Lebanese army's sophisticated radar for accurate targeting of the Israeli warship. For Hizballah and Hamas, Iran's manufactures have come up with a version that operates without radar. 1,000 missiles have already been delivered to Hizballah.

 

Tehran claims its updated Nur [CV32: also reported as Noor] anti-ship missile has 98 percent targeting effectiveness.

 

No official denial or confirmation was offered.

I think if this is true and something happens things could get very bad very quickly. Wouldn't surprise me if the whole of Gaza became reoccupied for a period of time if Israel lost a combat ship.