Reports on Japanese Missile Plans Misstate Significance
December 3, 2004 :: Yomiuri Shimbun :: News
The Associated Press reports that Japan is considering developing “long-range” ballistic missiles, in “an apparent reversal of post-World War II policy.” With such a “long-range weapon, Japan would have the capability of making a preemptive strike in foreign territory, raising concerns of a shift toward a more assertive policy.”
The purposes of such a development, however, appear to be different. The reporting distortions would seem to paint Japan as an aggressor in the region, when in fact the recent move points strongly to the increasing threats posed by North Korea and China.
The Japanese Kyodo and Yomiuri Shimbun news services recently reported on a draft outline for Japanese priorities over the next five years produced by the Japanese Defense Agency. The document apparently recommends research into surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with the capability of a few hundred kilometers and the ability to target installations used by potential enemies during an invasion of Japan.
Two points should be made about the suggested missile development. (Link)
» Dec. 3: Associated Press report, suggesting Japanese aggression
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Bush Broaches BMD in Canada
December 1, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
While visiting Canadian Prime Minister Martin, President Bush raised the subject of missile defense, and called on U.S.-Canadian cooperation for the defensive initiative. “I hope we’ll…move forward on ballistic missile defense cooperation to protect the next generation of Canadians and Americans from the threats we know will arise,” Bush said in a foreign policy speech. (Article, Link)
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Deployment of Additional Patriot Interceptors in South Korea Complete
November 30, 2004 :: Stars and Stripes :: News
The 8th U.S. Army completed its deployment of PAC-3 interceptors in South Korea, with the last load of equipment arriving last week. The Patriot batteries have been deployed in the southwestern city of Gwangju, 300 kilometers from Seoul. There are a reportedly a total of some eight batteries in South Korea, six of which are the older PAC-1 or PAC-2 versions. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Japan to Produce Patriot Interceptors
November 23, 2004 :: AFP :: News
The U.S. has agreed to permit Japan to begin production of the Patriot (PAC-3) interceptor which will form a part of Japan’s layered missile defense system. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is expected to begin building the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 in 2006, with a goal of deploying the land-based Patriot and sea-based missile defenses by 2008.
The limited range of the Patriot interceptor is more adequate for Japan than for the United States, given the proximity to North Korean missiles, the significantly reduced speed of a shorter range missile, and the smaller territory to defend. Japan will likely supplement the PAC-3 with some form of the Aegis sea-based system, with the Standard Missile-3 and with a newer version. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
China Complains that Taiwan is Building Missile Base
November 18, 2004 :: Xinhua :: News
Taiwan is constructing a large base at Jiupeng, located in Pingdong Province, at which it will deploy defensive Patriot missile interceptors. China is calling the base the largest in Asia, and a threat to peace.
After decades of development, Jiupeng Base gathers all the island’s secrets in high-precision observation, calculation, missile guidance, research and development, and is the island’s sole camp of test missile launch and important long-range projecting system tests. As Taiwan military boasted, the whole base is a small “space center” and its controlling center is no less than a “Space Center Houston” in a smaller scale.
The Xinhau news agency’s reference to the base as the largest in Asia must be properly understood, however. It is not as though the size of the missile base translates into a threat either to China or to other countries. China now has some 600 short range ballistic missiles off the coast of Taiwan, hundreds of cruise missiles, and a more advanced navy and air force. Taiwan’s capabilities are more defensive, but they are far from adequate. From China’s point of view, the concentration of so many important systems at one place could make it easier for them to all be destroyed together in a Chinese attack. (Article, Link)
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France Updating SLBM Arsenal
November 10, 2004 :: AP :: News
France is set to award $1.55 billion in contracts for the first set of new submarine launched ICBMs. Development of the M-51 began in 1998, and it has been designed to replace the older M-45 missiles. Reuters reports that the M-51 will be deployed on French submarines by 2010; earlier estimates set the date at 2008.
The Associated Press describes the contract as being for an unspecified number of missiles. It seems likely, however, that the number will be at least 64. France currently has 16 M-45 missiles deployed on each of four submarines, where the M-51 will also be deployed. When the M-45 entered service in 1997, 192 were reported to have been built. (Article, Link)
» French description of M-51, M-45 missiles
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» Missile details: M-45, M-51
Pro-China NSC Staff Delaying Patriot Sale to Taiwan
November 9, 2004 :: East Asia Intel :: News
Pro-Chinese staff members of the White House National Security Council are said to be delaying the sale of Patriot missile defense interceptors to Taiwan—systems essential to the island’s deterrence of China’s rapid missile buildup. East Asia Intel reports that the “pro-China faction,” argues that since Taiwan’s military is infiltrated by Chinese agents, China could acquire additional classified technology. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
South Korea Deploys Short Range Missiles
November 5, 2004 :: East Asia Intel :: News
South Korea is reported to have deployed some 100 ballistic missiles to target strategic targets in North Korea, to deter its neighbor to the North. The missiles are identified as the Hyonmu, with an extended range of 300 kilometers. The Hyonmu (or Hyon Mu) is an upgraded version of an NHK missile, a surface-to-surface variant of the American Nike-Hercules surface-to-air missile. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: NHK-1/2
Germany to Devote 1.25 Billion for MEADS
October 21, 2004 :: AFP :: News
Germany will spend some 1.25 billion dollars on ballistic missile defense over the next eight years, reports the Agence France-Presse, primarily on the cooperative U.S.-Germany-Italy program, the Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, designed to succeed, and eventually replace the current Patriot interceptors based in Germany and elsewhere.
MEADS is similar to Patriot in that both intercept missiles in their terminal, or descent phase. MEADS will be a successor, and have a longer range, as much as 1,000km. Part of Germany’s funds will go to the order of between 12 and 24 of the MEADS units, according to German lawmaker Hans-Peter Bartels of the governing Social Democrats. The existing Patriot interceptors in Germany would be gradually replaced.
German and Italian interest in the system reflects a growing shift in opinion, worldwide, that deterrence may fail, and that systems need to be in place for if and when that day comes. (Article, Link)
» EADS, Lockheed to cooperate
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» Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
Japan Joining Missile Defense Initiative
October 12, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
Japan will likely soon officially state its joining the American led effort for missile defenses, in part due to its concerns about neighboring North Korea, reports the Washington Times. Japan will do so despite the need to revise previous statutory prohibitions on the export of weapons systems which might prohibit joint work on such defenses. (Article, Link)
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