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RE: Task from OICC, No Task Number, Document Update (U), Dated 0900  Aug 90

Filename:500bkg.90





[    b.2.    ][   (b)(6)   ].



RE: Task from OICC, No Task Number, Document Update (U), Dated 
0900  Aug 90

Update of Publication [    b.2.    ]   Mar 90

Chemical Delivery by Missiles

Iraq is not known to have any missile warheads with 
chemical fills. However, Iraq has the technical ability to 
produce such warheads, and may already have done so. At 
present, Iraq has the following Short Range Ballistic 
Missiles (SRBMs):

Missile	Max Range Demonstrated Range Payload Warhead
Al Hussayn	600 km 600 km 350 kg 550 kg

Al Abbas	900 km 600 km 600 kg 400 kg

SCUD-B	300 km 300 km 1000 Kg 800 Kg
 
Chemical Delivery by Aerial Bombs

Iraq adopted the use of aerial bombs to deliver chemicals early 
in the war with Iran. Aerial bombs are relatively easy to fill 
and produce. There is an option to purchase empty bombs 
intended for incendiary use. Iraq [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)  
  ] white phosphorus bombs and filled them with agents produced 
at Samarra.

Early employment of chemical aerial bombs was not optimized. 
Poor bombing accuracy and improper fusing made many of these 
munitions ineffective against the poorly protected Iranian 
forces. Iran's recovery of unexploded Iraqi aerial bombs from 
battlefields in the 1984-1986 period led provided the positive 
proof of Iraqi use.

Iraq has employed both nerve and blister agents by aerial bomb. 
The first use of nerve agent by Iraq occurred in March 1984.

Iraq has 100 kg and 250 kg chemical aerial bombs. Available 
chemical fills are sulfur mustard, nerve agents tabun, GF and 
sarin. Bombs are usually filled with more persistent agents 
(mustard, tabun and GF) when striking deep targets. The 
nonpersistent nerve agent sarin is used for close air support 
of ground operations.



as the following aircraft which could carry chemical bombs:

Aircraft Combat Radius (nm) Bomb Load

MiG-23		
Flogger	[      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]	
F,H

MiG-23	
Flogger E

MiG-23	
Flogger G

MiG-29	
Fulcrum

MiG-25	
Foxbat B/D

Fl EO	
	

SU-24	
Fencer D

SU-24	
Fencer D

Su-25	
Frogfoot
A/B

SU-25	
Frogfoot
A/B

Su-17	
Fitter L

Su-17	
Fitter L

Su-17	
Fitter D,
H, J, K

Su-17	
Fitter D,
H, J, K



Su-17       

[      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]

. It is not known with certainty if Iraq has all the sizes of 
the bombs filled with chemicals. Iraq has shown that it can 
adapt purchased weapons for chemical delivery, and that 
chemical weapons can be produced and filled by the Samarra 
chemical weapons facility near Baghdad. Therefore, the use of 
500 and 1000 kg aerial bombs with chemical fills cannot be 
ruled out.

Artillery Ammunition

Iraq began a greater emphasis on artillery delivery of 
chemicals late in the war with Iran. Chemical ammunition is 
available for virtually all calibers of artillery weapons in 
the Iraqi inventory. The 155 mm Austrian guns in the Iraqi 
inventory were the preferred means of disseminating chemicals.

Sarin, a nonpersistent nerve agent, is the chemical agent of 
choice for artillery delivery. Sarin stays in the target area 
for periods of 10 to 30 minutes under typical desert 
conditions; this residence time could be further reduced when 
winds are strong. When forces are advancing rapidly, sarin 
provides a quick-acting means to kill enemy personnel in the 
target area without inhibiting friendly options for maneuver.

Iraq has modified its multiple rocket launcher (MRL) 
ammunition to accept greater payloads. The warheads of the MRL 
ammunition have been changed to accept up to three plastic 
containers filled with chemical agents. This allows the Iraqis 
to combine different chemical agents in the same munition, a 
procedure that makes decontamination and reconnaissance much 
more difficult. MRL's are a good choice as an area saturation 
device that is responsive to the commander's requirements.

Other Ammunition

Iraq has developed a chemical fill for 90 mm air to surface 
helicopter rockets. Evidence of these weapons, with mustard 
fills, was discovered [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ] during 
the war.

[   (b)(7)(D)   ]
 



 

 

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