Terrorist insurgents in Iraq have scores of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), a new report shows.

In more than two years since October 2006, at least 121 SAMs have been discovered in raids on illicit weapons caches, according to a new report from the Federation of American Scientists.

That threat exists despite a million dollar buyback program and hundreds of raids on those caches, the report disclosed.

Matt Schroeder, manager of the arms sales monitoring project at the federation, reported that four additional launchers and other components have been discovered along with the SAMs.

These reports suggest that insurgents still have ready access to surface-to-air missiles, including man-portable air defense weapons, or MANPADS.

At least some of the weapons reportedly are still operational. The missiles pose an immediate threat to civilian and military aircraft in Iraq and a potential threat to aircraft in the region.

Makers of systems to protect aircraft from such enemy missiles include BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] and Raytheon Co. [RTN].

The report may be read in full at http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2008/12/missile-watch-3-black-market-missiles-still-common-in-iraq.php on the Web.