- Alazan rocket
The Alazan rocket was a
Cold War -era, 82mmSoviet rocket originally developed to distribute cloud-seeding chemicals such as potassium or silveriodide . Some were converted into improvised munitions and modified to carry explosive warheads. Others were retrofitted with a warhead reputed to contain up to 400g of radioactivecaesium -137 andstrontium -90, to help scientists track clouds and other meteorological events. Both types were acquired by militants following the Soviet collapse.Its existence in the old Soviet arsenal, and hence in old ammunition deposits in Eastern Europe, has caused some concern following the increase in terrorist activity that has followed the
September 11, 2001 attacks . Significant local fallout would result if the devices were detonated close to the ground.References
* [http://www.rti.chuvashia.com/alazan5.htm Brochure]
* [http://www.biohazardnews.net/2003_12_01_archive.shtml Biohazard News]
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