Iran parades new missile

Iran has displayed its first indigenously produced ballistic missiles in a publicized military parade outside the shrine of Imam Khomeini. The ballistic missile is the Sejil, and while not much is known about the missile it is believed it is a two stage solid fuel missile. It is also reported that they are being mass produced. The show opened Iran’s Week of Holy Defense which commemorates the sacrifices made by Iranians during the Iran-Iraq War.

Change means new winners and losers

The President’s decision to alter missile defense plans for Europe has sent shockwaves through the defense industry. To be sure, there are those companies that benefit from this decision and those that loose. The main loser is Boeing. After all, Boeing was the principal contractor for the Ground-Based Midcourse system of which the European site was a significant part. Another big loser was Orbital Sciences Corporation which was slated to provide the 10 interceptors for the European site.

But other defense contractors could prove to be big winners, especially Lockheed Martin and Raytheon which produced ship-based or mobile system.  Raytheon makes the Aegis sea-based missile interceptors and Lockheed makes their control system.