"Guy Alcala" wrote in message
. ..
miso wrote:

Do you think Iraq could substitute a missile of their own?

I doubt it, but I'm open to persuasion. Can anyone comment on the
relative difficulty of solid versus liquid-fuel
production, and on whether the old missiles can be re-grained safely (safe
by Iraq under Saddam standards, that is)?


I can't comment about the technical questions, but, AFAIK, the French were
hot to get the Roland into the gear in Iraq at the time (1980s), and have
delivered everything they could, including technical documentation, complete
support infra-structure, for the System. Their Aerospatiale went even so far
to publish cards depicting successful engagements against British (during
the Falklands War) and Iranian aircraft by the Rolands. The Iraqis have also
got the licence for production of numerous French-made radars.

On the other side, by the late 1980s the Iraqis have got a pretty capable
industry of rocket motors, foremost thanks to their cooperation with
Brazilians, Yugs, and East Germans.

The US troops captured quite a number of Rolands (of course, most of these
in their sealed containers), in March and April this year: most were not the
best looking, but almost all were functioning.

So, I'd say, it could be that in this case 2+2 is ineed 4.

Tom Cooper
Co-Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
and,
Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat:
http://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk/t...hp/title=S6585