Russia may sell technology to cover up tracks made by Russian-produced ballistic missile launchers

Russia may sell a new technology to countries that utilizes Russian-produced ballistic missiles. According to Israeli assessments, the technology in question covers up tracks made by missile launchers from their hiding-place up to the launch point.

A Russian missile launcher

According to reports from foreign sources, Russia will soon equip all of its portable ballistic missile launchers with a system that covers up the traces left on the ground by the launcher’s wheels. These traces aid intelligence sensors, such as espionage satellites, to identify the hiding places of the missiles, which can destroy the missile in advance.

Russia’s Teykovo missile base in the Ivanovo region, where Topol-M SS-27 and RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles are stationed, will be the first base to be equipped with the new system. Other Russian missile bases will receive the trace-covering equipment in the coming months.

Russia has not provided precise details pertaining to how the traces of the launcher wheels are covered, but the country will likely adapt it for use with other missiles like the Scud missiles used by the Syrian Army, among others.

It is possible that this equipment might be sold to Iran, which could make use of it on several of its portable missile launchers. These are intended, among other things, for launching missiles such as the Shahab-3, which is capable of reaching Israel.

As stated, the covering of the missile launcher’s tracks may make it difficult to reveal where the missiles are being concealed, thus preventing any preventive strikes against the threat.

View original publication from Israel Defense at: http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=1353