New Hidden Missile System Unknown To Feds
Video on website -- http://www.wsbtv.com/video/25557231/index.html
October 29, 2010
ATLANTA -- A Russian weapons company is marketing a new missile system that
is hidden inside an ordinary shipping container. It can turn a ship, train
or truck into a long range missile launcher. Channel Two Action News anchor
Justin Farmer investigated the threat and found officials at the Port of
Savannah had never heard of the Club K Missile system.
It sounds like something out of a James Bond movie. A hidden cruise missile
that can transform a shipping container into a missile launcher. The problem
is it's real and a Russian weapons company is advertising it for sale to
anyone who has the cash to pay for it. Channel Two Action News went to the
Port of Savannah to find out how the feds are combating this potential
threat. They did not even know about it, until Farmer told them.
The promotional video for the Club K Missile system is part of the marketing
campaign by a private, Russian-based weapons manufacturer. The cruise
missile system is hidden in a 40-foot shipping container. It can fire four
long range satellite-guided missiles from a ship, train or tractor-trailer.
The Club K is being marketed at international weapons shows as a military
weapon. In the hands of a terrorist group the container could easily be
smuggled into the United states. It is so new most international security
experts have never heard of it.
"To look at an entire weapons system that can be put on a cargo ship and
deployed is frightening," said Brent Brown an international security
consultant, "It is a pretty devastating piece of technology that could have
all kinds of collateral damange."
The Port of Savannah is the fourth largest in the nation; moving over three
million containers a year. A Club K Missile system fired from a container at
the Port of Savannah could easily reach Atlanta 250 miles away.
Customs and Border protection are responsible for port security. Farmer
asked the Directors of Customs and Border Protections if he was aware of the
weapons. Director John Porter replied, "I am now."
Just how does the Federal government check millions of containers? Customs
says that they carefully monitor the paperwork of every container. They said
that it is largely done at the port of origin overseas. They admit, while
they have the latest in x-ray technology, it is simply not realistic to scan
all cargo.
Thousands of containers are off loaded from ships like this one but just a
fraction go through machines.
"If you are not checking 100% that it is a hole in the system," said Brown.
Every truck is check for radiation as it leaves the Savannah port, but the
Club K Missile can be either nuclear or hold conventional explosives that
would not' trip these detectors. Savannah authorities told us they believe
the Club K would not' make it through either way.
"Our systems in place would detect such an anomaly," said Porter.
"It is extremely troubling, it's extremely troubling," said retired general
now defense industry consultant David Poythress. Poythress added that the
military has quietly been working on technology to defend against a Club K
cruise missile-type system.
"It's a huge threat. A cruise missile launch from a vessel, off-shore
against an urban population," said Poythress.
Janes Defense Weekly estimates the price tag on the Club K Missile is
between $10-20 million. The Russian company that makes the weapon has
refused interviews. They have issued statements saying the Club-K is not
being marketed to terrorists and is meant for use on military ships. The
company also claims to have nations in Latin America and the Asia pacific
region interested in weapon.
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