Parchin

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Parchin, located about 90 km southeast of Tehran, Iran.

Parchin is the location of Iranian Defense Industries Organization site producing HMX - a high-powered explosive needed for non-nuclear "lenses" to trigger nuclear implosion devices. (Timmerman 2004 p 2)

To the northwest of Parchin in the Barjamali Hills, a test range for liquid-propellant missile engines is part of the Shahid Hemat Industrial Group (SHIG) research facility, where signature of engine test stand firing probably including technology from the Russian SS-4 "Sandal" missile was confirmed by American spy satellite August, 1997.

On 15 December, 1997, according to a report in The Washington Post, SHIG conducted at least a sixth 1997 test of an engine needed for an 800-mile range ballistic missile. The test was either sixth or eighth during 1997, according to available intelligence. It is reported the Russian Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute [TSAGI] contracted in early 1997 to build a wind tunnel at SHIG, for both Iranian and Russian missile designers to refine the Shahab-3missile. (http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/kukh-e-barjamali.htm)