A New Zealand handyman is building a cruise missile in his backyard, and posting the entire project on the internet.
Bruce Simpson, a 49 year-old internet developer and jet engine enthusiast, originally published a site in May of 2002 outlining "The Low Cost Cruise Missile: A looming threat?" wherein he highlights the potentially looming threat. The site details how one should be able to build a payload carrying cruise missile, with a range of 100-300 miles, for US$6,000 - US$10,000.
Bruce received a lot of feedback about his site:
Some time ago I wrote an article in which I suggested that it would not be difficult for terrorists to build their own relatively sophisticated cruise missiles using off-the-shelf components and materials.
Not surprisingly, that piece has produced a significant amount of feedback from the tens of thousands of people who have read it so far.
Included in this feedback, I've received quite a number of emails from former and currently serving US military personnel who acknowledge that the threat is one they are very much aware of and for which there is little in the way of an effective defense available.
However, there have also been a number of people who claim I'm overstating the case and that it's not possible to build a real cruise missile without access to sophisticated gear, specialist tools and information not readily available outside the military.
So, in order to prove my case, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and build a cruise missile in my own garage, on a budget of just US$5,000.
To this end, Bruce created a new site entitled "A DIY Cruise missile: Watch me build one for under $5,000". The site is updated regularly and contains lots of information that would be very helpful in undertaking such a project. Of course everyone wants to make a buck, so a "detailed level of documentation" is available to those who qualify and are willing to pay a small subscription fee for full access to the project diary.
"Look Ma!"
However, Mr. Simpson reminds us that:
Obviously the goal of this website is not to provide terrorists or other nefarious types with the plans for a working cruise missile but to prove the point that nations need to be prepared for this type of sophisticated attack from within their own borders.
I would also recommend visiting his FAQ for answers to such obvious questions as:
"Isn't this site just a resource for terrorists?"
"Why would they [terrorists] want to build one of those missiles?"
"How do we prevent terrorists from using this kind of stuff?"
and "How is a 10kg warhead going to do any serious damage?" (The answer is frightening indeed)Of course, his defense to all of this is that the information is widely available, saying "I'm not publicizing anything that's not already on the net". He is also quick to point out that terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda "have got far more resources, far more well-educated, qualified people than myself and if they wanted to do this, they would do it whether I published my site or not".
Mr Simpson says he has had 400,000 hits on his web site and calls from people in Lebanon and Iran wanting to buy his know-how.
"I have had emails from Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, quite a few places where one would suspect that it might not be a good idea to get involved."
Aside from the missiles low-cost and devastating potential, also frightening is the availability of the parts needed.
He has been able to buy online the electronic parts needed to guide the missile once fired, and import them.
Simpson is alarmed at the ease with which he was able to pursue his project.
"All this stuff is off the shelf," he said. "It came in under the radar. It rang no alarm bells."
Among the imported items are a radio control transmitter and flight pack, global positioning gear, antennas, software, video camera and a flight control system.
Simpson ordered them from overseas websites, they were delivered within two weeks, and passed through customs with ease.
He bought parts for the missile's body and wings - such as stainless steel, polystyrene sheets and fibreglass - locally.
NZ customs won't comment about Simpson's project, but say while many items that can be imported are innocuous by themselves, they can be dangerous if altered or used with other items.
Mr Simpson says there is little authorities can do to stop the spread of such information or the construction of similar missiles.
"Unfortunately, you take a kitchen knife, you can use it to butter bread or to stab someone with it. And we don't ban kitchen knives because they might be a weapon, and the same goes for the GPS and all the other systems involved in this cruise missile," he said.
The NZ Defence Department would not comment but one official told the New Zealand Herald Mr Simpson's web site could be violating the international Missile Technology Control Regime, under which New Zealand has agreed to restrict the availability of missile technology.
Simpson says that anyone with half a brain could build his Low-Cost Cruise Missile.
Do-It Yourself Cruise Missile 
