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File: 082696_doc1_027.txt
African neighbors.
(5) By Libyan-sponsored terrorist
groups.
Libya received small stocks of chemi-
cal weapons directly from Iran and
the Soviet Union in the mid-l980s.
These were used unsuccessfully aainst
Chadian forces in August 1987.2
Libya's main effort has gone into
constructing a chemical production
plant at Al-Rabitah.26 Libya claims
that the plant, known as Pharma 150,
is designed to produce pharrnaceuti-
} cals. Most Western governments, though,
now accept the U.S. claim that it is pri-
marily designed to produce chemical
warfare agents.27 The plant is alleged
ly the largest of its kind in the Third
World, larger even than the U.S. CW
facility at Pine Bluff Arsenal, AR.28
According to Israeli reports. the plant
is designed to produce mustard gas
tabun and sarin, with a possible rate
of production of 42 tons per day.
In early 1988, a pilot plant at Al-
Rabitah produced small amounts of
mustard gas. However, a leak in mid-
1988 halted production. and Western r 10
)pressure stopped further work tempo-
-~ rarily. By mid-1989, Libya had ob-
tained the services of Thai engineers,
and at present the plant is nearing
completion.
The international network estab-
lished to carry out the project included
over 30 companies from 12 coun- Marines prepare for a simulated poison gas
tries.29 Soviet bloc enterprises provid- allack during T~Af Sfl~T 90.
ed steel components and engineers.
Japanese companies provided electri-
cal components and a metal fabrica-
tion plant, which was colocated and is
probably used for making munitions. A
U.S. company may have supplied the
~~~~~~~~ system.30 A French company
sold appliance parts. while a Dutch
firm handled much of the transporta-
tion of components. A Swiss investment
~~~~~ was the main conduit for pay- ing its long-range systems. The Libyan in southern Libya, where a Libyan-
ments. However, the main role was Air Force now has 7 TU-22 and 16 West German team known as Otrat
played by West German companies.. SU-24 bombers, in addition to MiG- are developing a 500-kilometer-range
The prime contractor set up a world- 23 and Mirage fighter-bombers.32 The ballistic missile. Libya has also of-
wide network of suppliers and front range of this force may have been ex- fered to fund the development of t~
companies so that many of the sub- tended by the conversion of C- 130 MB/EE family of missiles by Orbit~
contractors were deceived as to the transport aircraft into airborne tank- Aerospace of Brazil.~ In return. Libya
destination of their products. This ers with the help of a West German would obtain the rights to manufac-
)Nest German involvement is dis- company.33 ture these 900-kilometer-range missiles
-~ `cussed later. Libya possesses the ubiquitous FROG- domesticafly. Approaches have also
Libya has a fair complement of ar- 7 and Scud B missiles, the latter possi- been made to China in an attempt to
tillery pieces that it can use as short- bly having been domestically up- buy the DF-3 medium range ballistic
range delivery systems.31 It has, how- graded to a range of 490 kilometers. missile (MRBM), which has a range of
-~ ever, recently concentrated on upgrad- There is a missile test range at Tauwiua up to 3,(X}0 kilometers.
Alorine Corps Gonie July 1990 65
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