Israel conducted a successful test of the Jericho missile last Wednesday at the southern Palmahim base, said the London-based Al Hayat newspaper, cited by Haaretz newspaper.
The paper, which quoted Western sources, said that the missile had a range of some 1,500 kilometers.
According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the range of this missile is frequently reported as about 1,500 km with a 1,000-kilogram payload, but other estimates suggest that it is capable of a much longer range.
An improved version of the Jericho, the Jericho 2, reportedly has enhanced accuracy and “puts most Arab capitals and the southern areas of the former Soviet Union within striking distance from Israel,” it said.
The first test of the Jericho 2 was noted by Western intelligence in May 1987, it said, adding that the missile traveled a distance of 850 km into the Mediterranean.
A second test occurred in September 1988, near the time of Israel's Offeq-1 satellite launch.
In September 1989, a Jericho 2 missile was fired into the Mediterranean and traveled 1,300 km.
Also, longer-range tests of the missile may have been conducted in South Africa.
“This model has been successfully tested several times and is now operational and deployed,” according to FAS - Albawaba.com
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