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No injuries as antitank missile misfires, falls near Peru authorities
[April 17, 2010]

No injuries as antitank missile misfires, falls near Peru authorities


Lima, Apr 17, 2010 (EFE via COMTEX) -- An antitank missile misfired and fell close to Peru's defense minister, army chief and lawmakers, who were attending a trial of the weapon in the desert south of Lima. No one was injured.

When the projectile fell some 50 meters (164 feet) from those watching the trial, they ran away terrified, fearing an explosion, Peruvian television's Channel N said Friday.

The missile did not explode and no one was hurt.

The test-firing of Spike-LR antitank missiles, made by the Israeli firm Rafael and recently acquired (in a number not specified) by the Peruvian government, was carried out in the Cruz de Hueso ravine some 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Lima.



Among the spectators were Defense Minister Rafael Rey, army commander Gen. Otto Guibovich, legislators Mercedes Cabanillas and Luisa Maria Cuculiza, as well as local reporters.

After the incident, Rey demanded an explanation from the representatives of the Israeli firm who were on hand for the trial.


The manufacturers said that the accident was due to a technical failure and promised to provide a comprehensive report on the matter in the coming days, RPP said.

The first Israeli missile was fired successfully earlier at Cruz de Hueso, according to the state news agency Andina.

The Spike-LR antitank missile reaches its range of 4 kilometers (2 1/2 miles) in 26 seconds and can penetrate armor 1 meter (3 1/4 feet) thick.

Hitting a target sets off two explosions, the first to shatter the tank's armor and the second to inject a jet of heat that reaches 5,000 degrees centigrade (9,000 degrees Fahrenheit). EFE wat/cd

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