Non-Subscriber Extract
Jane's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence profile: Syria
- Article Tools
| 03 November 2006 |
Syria's aspirations of regional leadership and its strategic position have led the government to seek an offensive NBC capability, chiefly to deter an Israeli nuclear weapons threat, particularly in Chemical Weapons (CW) and missiles.
Syria is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) of 1993. It is currently believed to be able to deploy 100-200 SCUD missiles fitted with sarin nerve agent warheads. Some may be fitted with V-agent warheads but this is still unconfirmed. Since the early 1990s, Syria has switched its primary focus away from the development of CW to improving its SCUD missile delivery systems, which are obtained from overseas.
However, US and Israeli intelligence have long suspected Syria of an undercover offensive programme, and Syria is believed to have one of the more mature CW capabilities in the developing world - although it has received far less attention than other countries under suspicion, most notably Iraq, Iran and Libya. Chemical production infrastructure consists of possibly four facilities but it is not known whether these are currently being used to produce new agents. Intelligence sources believe that Syria is still working to perfect its V-agent capability and to enhance its delivery capabilities.
197 of 1,733 words
© 2006 Jane's Information Group
[End of non-subscriber extract]
Customers with a paid subscription to Jane's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence can access the full article here.
If you would like to subscribe, please see our products section for more information and pricing on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence.