Al Quds 3
Encyclopedia
The Quds-3 is a rocket
is based on the Russian Grad and BM21 Katyusha. The new rocket, test-fired against Ashkelon
on March 28, 2006, weighs 66 kilograms and carries 17 kilograms of explosives. It was developed in the Gaza Strip
, allegedly with the aid of the Palestinian Authority
funding and Iran
ian operatives. In April 2006, DebkaFile reported Palestinian militants were manufacturing the Quds-3 along with a multiple-rocket launcher system.
The 122 mm launcher fires 10 rockets simultaneously to a distance of 18–30 kilometers. The system, capable of firing 40 rockets within 20 seconds, weighs 13 tons and enables Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to strike Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and Ofakim. The rockets are launched by a crew that pulls back approximately 60 meters from the launcher and releases the rockets by pulling a wire. Several dozen rockets are already in stock.
In May, Palestinian Islamic Jihad
fired a Grad-class Katyusha rocket at the western Negev
community of Netiv Ha'asara. According to Middle East Newsline, Islamic Jihad has test-fired at least three indigenous versions of the Russian-origin BM-21
Grad rocket (from the northern Gaza Strip) for range and accuracy. "We believe Islamic Jihad, probably with Hamas, has been developing and producing prototypes of the Grad...We know they have the expertise and the equipment to produce the rocket."
In July 2006, media reports indicated Hamas
had successfully developed an indigenous variant of the Soviet-origin Katyusha rocket (BM-21 Grad) with a range of 24 kilometers. The new 122 mm Grad was fired (on July 18) at Kibbutz Sdot Bror Hayil—approximately 19 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The rocket traveled 24 kilometers, exceeding the 20 km range of a standard 122 mm Katyusha.
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
is based on the Russian Grad and BM21 Katyusha. The new rocket, test-fired against Ashkelon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
on March 28, 2006, weighs 66 kilograms and carries 17 kilograms of explosives. It was developed in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, allegedly with the aid of the Palestinian Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
funding and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian operatives. In April 2006, DebkaFile reported Palestinian militants were manufacturing the Quds-3 along with a multiple-rocket launcher system.
The 122 mm launcher fires 10 rockets simultaneously to a distance of 18–30 kilometers. The system, capable of firing 40 rockets within 20 seconds, weighs 13 tons and enables Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to strike Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and Ofakim. The rockets are launched by a crew that pulls back approximately 60 meters from the launcher and releases the rockets by pulling a wire. Several dozen rockets are already in stock.
In May, Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine known in the West as simply Palestinian Islamic Jihad , is a small Palestinian militant organization. The group has been labelled as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia and Israel...
fired a Grad-class Katyusha rocket at the western Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
community of Netiv Ha'asara. According to Middle East Newsline, Islamic Jihad has test-fired at least three indigenous versions of the Russian-origin BM-21
BM-21
The BM-21 launch vehicle , a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, and a M-21OF rocket were developed in the early 1960s. BM stands for boyevaya mashina, ‘combat vehicle’, and the nickname means ‘hail’. The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket...
Grad rocket (from the northern Gaza Strip) for range and accuracy. "We believe Islamic Jihad, probably with Hamas, has been developing and producing prototypes of the Grad...We know they have the expertise and the equipment to produce the rocket."
In July 2006, media reports indicated Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
had successfully developed an indigenous variant of the Soviet-origin Katyusha rocket (BM-21 Grad) with a range of 24 kilometers. The new 122 mm Grad was fired (on July 18) at Kibbutz Sdot Bror Hayil—approximately 19 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The rocket traveled 24 kilometers, exceeding the 20 km range of a standard 122 mm Katyusha.