Al-Watah ballistic missile base | |
Map Type: | Saudi Arabia |
Type: | Missile base |
Coordinates: | 24.2137°N 44.702°W |
Ownership: | Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force |
Controlledby: | Saudi Arabia |
Al-Watah ballistic missile base is a ballistic missile facility in the low but quite rocky mountains near the town of Al-Watah, Saudi Arabia, 200 km west-southwest of Riyadh.[1]
The analysts think that the base was built no earlier than 2008. The communication tower of the base is situated at coordinates: 24.2137°N 44.702°W.The base has several underground entry gates, parking slots for mobile launchers and two large launch pads that are identical to ones that can be seen at Chinese DF-3 (CSS-2) Dongfeng missile bases.The liquid-fueled DF-3A is an early Chinese nuclear weapon Intermediate-range ballistic missile and is believed to have a range of 4,000 – 5,000 km with a 2,000 kg warhead.[2] Michael Elleman and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. stated that the site appears to have a rocket-engine production and test facility.[3]
The launch pads' marks and configuration from satellite images[4] show that the base is 'targeting Iran and Israel with ballistic missiles'.[5] As a Response Israel Target Saudi Arabia With Jericho Missiles
Construction of the base likely began in 2013.
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