Chemical Weapons Delivery

This article surveys the various types of chemical weapons delivery systems that were developed during the twentieth century, concentrating on weapons produced by the United States. In general, chemical weapons delivery systems fit into one of several general types weapons produced by other nations tend to have similar designs. 

C. Environmental factors. The presence of wind and rain can reduce the effectiveness of chemical weapon delivery by increasing dispersion and dilutional effects. Cold weather may reduce vapor formation but increase persistence of the liquid form of some agents. Gases and vapors heavier than air may accumulate in low-lying areas. 

Israeli-based publications and western analysts seem to be in agreement that Syria s Scud-C missiles, originally purchased from North Korea, are being utilized for long-range chemical weapons delivery. Recent reports indicate that Syria has also developed clusters of bomblets containing CW to be loaded... 

Weapons Convention is facilitated by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the assistance received through the contributions of member states and the utilisation of experts within and external to the OPCW. It also involves the coordination and delivery of specialised services from national agencies and other international organisations involved in providing emergency humanitarian assistance. The OPCW will continue its work on the cooperative efforts with many member states to maintain the effort to development, implement and train for an effective delivery of assistance in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

In this context, the Convention requires that States Parties cooperate with the OPCW in facilitating the coordination and delivery of assistance and protection to minimise the consequences of a chemical weapons attack, in countering the threat of use of chemical weapons, and in eliminating the threats posed by activities prohibited under Article I of the Convention. Article X stipulates that each State Party has the right to request and to receive assistance and protection against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons. 

Chemical weapons (CW) Munitions and other delivery systems that contain chemical substances intended to injure or kill or incapacitate personnel or to deny access or use of area, facilities, and materials. 

China Has advanced chemical weapons programme. Researching more advanced agents. Delivery systems include artillery, rockets, mortars, landmines, aerial bombs, sprayers, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. 

India Declared in June 1997 that it possessed a chemical weapons stockpile. Has begun to destroy its stockpile under the CWC. Its industry retains the ability to produce agent precursors - chemicals that can be used in chemical weapons production. Delivery systems include short-range anti-ship cruise missiles, air-launched tactical missiles, fighter aircraft, artillery and rockets. 

Iran Has a stockpile of chemical weapons. Previously known to have produced and stockpiled blister, blood and choking agents, and probably nerve agents. Seeking aid from Chinese and Russian entities to develop more advanced self-sufficient infrastructure. Delivery systems include artillery shells, mortars, rockets and aerial bombs. Used chemical weapons during Iran-Iraq War. 

North Korea Believed to possess sizeable stockpile of chemical weapons including nerve, blister, choking and blood agents. Delivery methods could include missiles, artillery and aerial bombs. 

It is noteworthy that the assistance and protection provisions in Article X provide for a variety of mechanisms to deal with possible future CW threats, no matter how they might come about. The CWC not only establishes the right of States Parties to protect themselves against chemical weapons but calls for enhanced cooperation between the parties in the area of exchanging equipment, material and information needed for protective purposes and requires the Organisation as a whole to help States Parties improve their protective capacity and to provide assistance to those States Parties that are not in a position to acquire protection for themselves, by the coordination and delivery of such protection under procedures of the Organisation. ... 

When we consider the multitudes of vulnerabilities to potential terrorists use of biological and chemical weapons as discussed above, and the rapid expansion of novel production and delivery methodologies increasingly available to terrorists as a result of technology proliferation, it becomes apparent that effective prevention and protection strategies must be multidisciplinary and integrated at the local through national levels, and the research efforts to develop and field effective countermeasures must be interdisciplinary. 

---