The government-controlled Syrian press has reported allegations in the Western media that Syria and Iran obtained advanced German missile technology, previously exported to Russia.[1, 2] Allegedly, Syrian and Iranian weapons factories received this technology from Russian smugglers and used it to improve their missile capabilities.[3] The Syrian government has strongly denied the charges.[4]

In early November 2005, a German outlet published an article stating that advanced German missile technology (propulsion systems, control systems, and measuring instruments), originally sent to Russia, was smuggled by Russian middlemen into Syria and Iran. [3] According to the article, Iran has used this technology to enhance the range of its Shahab 3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, to enable it potentially to reach targets in Europe. Syria has also allegedly used the German technology to renovate its rundown Russian-made SCUD missile arsenal. Syrian sources have adamantly denied these allegations and stated that they have not received any missile technology through unlawful means.[4]

The German Government is said to have sent letters to a number of domestic firms warning about the possibility of smuggling. The letter stated that the German companies should be aware of 15 Russian firms, in particular, that are thought to have taken part in smuggling schemes in the past.[ 1, 2, 3] Russian media sources have stated that the accusations have caused “bewilderment” in Russia. Also, a Russian export official declared that Russia does not “re-export arms and military hardware to third countries.”[5]

While accusations regarding Syrian and Iranian acquisition of missile technology on the black market are not new, the Syrian decision to publicize the allegations in the Syrian state-censored media is unexpected. In this case, on November 6, the allegation was translated into Arabic from the original German article and printed in full detail in Champress, one of Syria’s premier news outlets. Two days later, the Syrian government issued a resounding denial that this transaction ever took place and emphasized that Syria does not purchase such materiel through unlawful means.

It is possible that the publication and denial of these allegations in a popular Syrian outlet is intended for a domestic audience, to suggest that the Syrian government is being unfairly targeted by the West and that there is no more substance to the charges than those accusing Saddam Hussein of harboring clandestine WMD programs.

SOURCES: [1] “Syria and Iran Obtain German Missile Technology,” Cham Press, November 6, 2005, [2] “Russians Sold Weapons Factories and German Missile Technology to Iran and Syria,” Cham Press, November 6, 2005. [3] “German Technology Exported to Russia Allegedly Sold by Agents to Iran, Syria,” Munich Focus, November 7, 2005, available from FBIS, document identification number EUP 20051108086008. [4] “Syria Denies Obtaining Missile Technology,” Cham Press, November 8, 2005. [5] Viktor Myasnikov and Vladimir Ivanov, “Russians Voice ‘Bewilderment’ at FRG Claims Equipment Passed to Syria, Iran,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta, November 7, 2005, available from FBIS, document identification number CEP20051107023001.