Iran develops 900-kg ‘smart bomb’ - official media

*Reuters
Published:     08.22.07, 23:57 / Israel News

Guided bomb developed by specialists within Islamic Republic’s Defense
Ministry and is now operational, IRNA news agency reports, adding it
could be dropped from F-4 and F-5 jets

Iran has developed a 2,000-pound (900 kg) “smart bomb”, official media
quoted a Defense Ministry statement as saying on Wednesday, in the
latest announcement from Tehran about progress regarding military hardware.

Commander of Revolutionary Guards says his ground forces have missiles
that could penetrate armor plating fitted to Israel's Merkava tanks, US
Abrams tanks

The guided bomb, named Qased (Messenger), was developed by specialists
within the ministry and is now operational, IRNA news agency said,
adding it could be dropped from F-4 and F-5 jets.

Iran still uses planes, such as the F-5, supplied by the United States
to the government of the former shah of Iran, who was a close US ally.
Mohammad Reza Shah was ousted in the 1979 Islamic revolution, after
which Washington cut ties with Tehran.

The two countries are embroiled in a deepening standoff over Iran’s
nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making atom bombs,
a charge Iran denies.

Iran often says it has built new arms or upgraded weapons but rarely
gives enough details for analysts to determine their capabilities.
Although much of Iran’s weaponry is outmoded, analysts say Iran has
become proficient at modifying such arms.

Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said last year Iran had
designed the Qased bomb but that it had yet to be tested. He said only a
limited number of countries possessed the technology of “smart and
guided weaponry”.

The United States says it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the
nuclear row, but has not ruled out military action. Iran has threatened
to hit back at US regional interests if attacked.