Russia Aided North Korean Export Missiles
September 20, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
Russia aided North Korea’s Taepo’ Dong missile development, reports Geostrategy-Direct. The Taepo-Dong may well have been a copy of the Russian SS-N-6, or R-27. Iran is the most likely client to purchase Taepo’ Dongs, when they become available. China has also been using North Korea as a front to export missiles. “Although China recently issued updated regulations on the export of chemical and biological agents, as well as missile-related export controls, full implementation and effective enforcement are still lacking,” Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. “We continue to see disturbing cases of proliferation activities by certain Chinese firms.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-17, Tien Chi, Tien Ma 1
U.S.-India Commission Issues Joint Statement
August 8, 2003 :: Department of Defense :: News
A joint commission between the United States and India today issued a joing statement on military cooperation which included moving forward on missile defense alliances. India, which borders its natural geopolitical enemy China with a large arsenal of ballistic missiles, will be invited to two upcoming BMD conferences in Japan and Germany, during June 2003 and July 2004, respectively.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith led the U.S. panel. Feith was the co-author of a famous 1996 legal memorandum on the lapsing of the ABM Treaty following the collapse of the Soviet Union. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, China, India
DOD Report on Chinese Military Power
July 30, 2003 :: Department of Defense :: Analysis
The Department of Defense released a report on Chinese Military Power, which details on the Chinese military buildups and overall “grand strategy.” In addition to an increase in number of short range missiles off the coast of Taiwan from 350 to 450, the rate of increase has been upgraded from an estimated 50 to 75 per year. While the Chinese would likely prefer to buy out Taiwan peacefully (as it did with the Hong Kong transfer in 1996), they are pursuing “credible military options” that would include keeping the U.S. Pacific forces at bay while pursuing a quick collapse by Taipei. The report goes on to consider China’s grand strategy in the Pacific generally. (Article, Link)
» DOD AFPS Summary of Report
» More stories on: China
Taiwan Requests PAC-3
July 24, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Janes Missiles and Rockets confirms that Taiwan indeed plans on purchasing the United States’ latest operational Patriot Advanced Capability system, the PAC-3. Taiwan has formally presented their request for three Lockheed Martin Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile batteries, which the US Department of Defense is said to be currently evaluating and will likely recommend, as well as early warning radar (EWR). Taiwan already has three batteries of the PAC-2.
These purchase plans coincide with continued reports that China is increasing the number of ballistic missiles positioned off the coast of Taiwan, with some 100 DF-11 and 300 DF-15 missiles, according to Jane’s August 1 edition. (Article, Link)
» March 14 report on Taiwan’s missile defense interests
» More stories on: Allies, China, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Blank on Proliferation in Asia
July 22, 2003 :: Asia Times :: Analysis
Stephen Blank on the growing proliferation of ballistic missiles by China and North Korea, both of which pose a great threat to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, as well as the latter’s responses with missile defense. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, Proliferation
China Set to Test Missiles
June 20, 2003 :: Inside the Ring (Washington Times) :: News
China is reportedly planning to test three missiles in the coming weeks, the new long-range and mobile DF-31, the medium range DF-21, and the JL-2 SLBM. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-5 Mod 2, CSS-5, CSS-9 (DF-31), CSS-NX-5 (JL-2)
Russia: China Test Launches CSS-X-9
January 22, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The February 1 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia detected a launch and test of the new Chinese mobile ICBM on November 23, 2002. The DF-31 tested, also known as the CSS-X-9, was launched from a test site at Uchzhai in the Tekimakan desert and went some 1,700 km before impact.
Janes notes that according to the Department of Defense, the DF-31 will likely be operational “before mid-decade.” (Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-9 (DF-31)
Chinese CSS-5 Test May Have Included Anti-BMD Countermeasures
September 1, 2002 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The September 1 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that the early July test of their CSS-5 ballistic missile (range 2,150-2,500km) may have included the test of countermeasures, desinged to overcome ballistic missile defenses, such as those the United States will deploy around 2004-2005, after the June 13, 2002 withdrawal from the ABM Treaty.
If true, the timing of the test of countermeasures may very likely suggest a “message” to the United States that China will do all within its power to retain a strong offensive nuclear capability against America.
Janes cites US press reports that the missile test involved the deploying of six or seven decoy warheads besides its main payload warhead. The CSS-5 can carry a high explosive or a nuclear warhead of up to 300 kT yield.
This particular test of the CSS-5, or DF-21, began with a launch from the Jiangxi province and traveling some 1,300 km into the Kansu province. The DF-21 has a solid propellant, more advanced than liquid propellants and capable of much faster launch readiness.
According to Janes, China’s IRBM force is said to be located in the provinces of Datong in central China, Jianshui in southern China, Tonghua in northeast China, and Lianxiwang in western China. (Link)
» More stories on: China, Technology, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-5 Mod 2, CSS-5
U.S. China Commission Report
July 15, 2002 :: U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission :: Analysis
The annual report of the U.S. China Commission was released today. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China
National Intelligence Estimate on the Foreign Ballistic Missile Threat
January 9, 2002 :: CIA :: News
The National Intelligence Council released the latest report on Foreign Missile Developments and the Ballistic Missile Threat Through 2015. The report concludes that the missile threat to the United States has increased since 1999 and that any future analyses of the missile threat must also include the threat posed by rogue nations and terrorist groups. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, India, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Proliferation
