Ivanov Threatens Poland on U.S. Missile Defense Site
October 11, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov yesterday attacked U.S. plans to deploy ballistic missile defense systems in Poland, reports RIA Novosti. “The announced purpose [of the deployment] is the interception of Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles, which have never existed and will not exist in the near future,” Ivanov said. He added, “I think everyone here understands against whom they [BMD systems] can be used,” meaning Russia. Ivanov said Russia views the U.S. plans as “a destabilizing element and an attempt to shift the strategic balance.” He also noted his “surprise” at Poland’s interest in the project, but attempted to dismiss growing fears that Poland could become a potential target of Russia’s armed forces. (Article, Link)
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Japan Orders 16 PAC-3 Missiles from U.S.
October 11, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Japan has ordered sixteen Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missiles from the U.S., reports the October 11 issue of Jane’s Defence Weekly. The Pentagon informed Congress of the planned $144 million deal on September 29. The main supplier would be defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The proposed deal follows a similar notification issued in September 2004 involving the sale to Japan of 20 PAC-3 missiles with associated equipment and services valued at up to $79 million. (Link)
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» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3), Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Israel Developing “Magen Kassum” Rocket Interceptor
October 7, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Israel Military Industries (IMI) is developing a new defense system against short- and long-range rockets, reports the October 11 edition of Jane’s Defence Weekly. The new system, dubbed Magen Kassum (Magic Shield), will consist of a “light rocket” that, unlike other missile defense systems, will carry no homing device or radar. According to an IMI spokesman, “after receiving data from a variety of available sensors, the rocket will be launched to an optimal interception point against the incoming threat … and will be detonated in proximity to the incoming rocket.” Based on the 160 mm Accurate Light Artillery Rocket (AccuLAR), the Magen Kassum is designed to deal with a broad range of rocket threats, from the Palestinian Qassam, with a range from 9 km, to the Iranian Zelzal, with a range of 200 km. The concept has been presented to Israel’s Ministry of Defence, which is seeking solutions to the growing threat of rockets from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. (Link)
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Sieff: New Japanese Prime Minister an “Enormous Boost” to U.S Missile Defense
October 6, 2006 :: UPI :: Analysis
Shinzo Abe’s smooth accession as prime minister of Japan will give an enormous boost to the U.S. missile defense program, writes Martin Sieff in the UPI. He notes that “Abe, the handpicked successor of outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has made very clear he intends not only to stick with his predecessor’s groundbreaking programs on ballistic missile defense cooperation with the United States but even to accelerate them.” The new prime minister has inherited a large treasury and a robust domestic economy, meaning that “the flood of Japanese high-tech orders, especially for co-production of the Patriot, will continue as Koizumi and President George W. Bush anticipated.” In addition, Abe has made it clear that any diplomatic outreach toward Beijing, or anywhere else, “will not come at the expense of crash co-development of a broad range of BMD systems.” For these reasons, Japan will remain America’s most important global ally in the development of missile defense. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Canadian Senate Report Endorses U.S. Missile Defense
October 5, 2006 :: CBC News :: News
The Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on National Security and Defense stated in a major report released Thursday that Canada should become a partner in U.S. ballistic missile defense. The report, entitled Managing Turmoil: The Need to Upgrade Canadian Foreign Aid and Military Strength to Deal with Massive Change, responded directly to the allegations of the Canadian anti-missile defense lobby, which has thus far blocked Canada from joining the U.S. program. “The Committee believes that the lobby against BMD in Canada is based more on emotions than a rational analysis of BMD’s potential benefits to Canada,” the report stated. “An effective BMD system could save hundreds of thousands of Canadian lives. This Government should not make the mistake that the last Government made, by refusing to support the United States in this project.” The report went on to list eleven reasons why Canada should partner with the U.S. in missile defense:
- BMD is designed to enhance the security of North America as a whole—not just the United States—and the defence of the continent is clearly in Canada’s interests.
- The defence of North America—in partnership with the United States—is a Canadian responsibility.
- BMD is designed to respond to an attack by deflecting the attack, rather than by retaliating. Unlike the existing Russian defensive system, BMD will not produce nuclear fallout, because BMD missiles do not have nuclear warheads.
- Canada has not been asked to contribute funds or even offer bases to locate missiles—all we have been asked to do is support the idea and enter into discussions as to how we might best be protected.
- Recent tests against complex targets have proven successful.
- Non-nuclear technology that can shoot down costly weaponry is a deterrent, not an offensive weapon that will cause an arms race.
- Weapons in space are inevitable. Better we prepare for it now than be caught unawares.
- The Americans are going ahead with the program. Participation will ensure our sovereignty by giving us a seat at the table. If we do not participate, Americans alone will decide if and how Canada is protected.
- Canada has been the recipient of information on potential ballistic missile warning threats to North America for more than 30 years. The US is considering moving that function from NORAD to their US-only Strategic Command. Should that move occur, Canada would no longer be assured of receiving such warnings.
- Even if BMD does not work, why should Canada be concerned about something that is being paid for by America to defend the continent?
- Washington is going ahead with BMD and it might end up saving Canadian lives. If there is the tiniest chance that it could, why would we turn up our noses at the opportunity to be a partner in this project?
(Article, Link)
» Read the full report by the Canadian Senate Committee
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Congress Boosts Funding For Arrow, SRBMD Programs
October 4, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Congress voted to increase funding for two joint U.S.-Israeli ballistic missile defense programs on September 29, reports Jane’s Defence Weekly. The Arrow weapon system, jointly produced by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Boeing, received a $127 million budget for fiscal year 2007, $3 million more than last year’s funding and $40 million more than the Bush administration requested from Congress. Of the $127 million, $63 million is allocated for the production of the Arrow 2 interceptor, and $64 million for the development of the Arrow 2 Block 3 and Block 4 upgraded versions. The system consists of high-altitude interceptors that are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles in the stratosphere during their final descent phase. Currently deployed, Arrow is Israel’s primary defense against intermediate-range Iranian missiles that could carry nuclear warheads.
In addition to its funding for Arrow, Congress approved $25 million for a feasibility study of a short-range ballistic missile defense (SRBMD) initiative currently being conducted by Israel’s Rafael Armament Development Authority and Raytheon. The two companies are designing a new interceptor, known as “Stunner” in the U.S. and “Kela David” in Israel. The program was initiated following the recent Lebanon war, during which Hezbollah fired over 4,000 short-range Katyusha rockets into northern Israel. Israel’s cost requirement was initially $100,000 per interceptor, although industry sources estimate the Stunner will cost around $300,000. The new SRBMD initiative is seeking to build a smaller, cheaper interceptor not exceeding $30,000, with a range of 40-200 km. Sources indicate, however, that the system will not be ready for deployment until 2011 at the earliest.
The Stunner technology, Jane’s reports, is based on “next-generation Rafael Python dual-wave imaging infra-red air-to-air missile technology and advanced low-cost Raytheon tactical missile technology, combined with a radar being developed by Israel Aircraft Industries’ Elta Systems.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Israel, Budget, Allies
» Missile system details for: Arrow
Russia Warns Poland Against Hosting U.S. or NATO Missile Defense Site
October 3, 2006 :: Interfax :: News
Russia today warned Poland against hosting a U.S. or NATO missile defense site on its territory, reports Interfax. Speaking before the start of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s official visit to Poland, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying, “We regard negatively U.S. plans to deploy anti-missile defense system in Europe, and we believe that with the possible deployment of the European NATO missile defense system it would have a negative impact on strategic stability, regional security and intergovernmental relations.” Kamynin added that “a new situation like this one will objectively require us to take appropriate measures because we cannot rely in such matters solely on statements that the missile defense systems of the U.S. and NATO in Europe ‘are not aimed’ against Russia.” Kamynin did not say what measures Russia might take in response, but the military chief of staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, warned in a Polish newspaper last month that “deploying the large-scale U.S. anti-missile shield threatens to spark a new arms race.” U.S. officials have said that the site would be designed to defend Europe against intercontinental-range ballistic missiles launched by rogue states such as Iran or North Korea. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, European Missile Defenses, Allies
Feulner on U.S.-Japanese “Special Relationship”
October 3, 2006 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
Ed Feulner, president of the Heritage Foundation, argues persuasively that the U.S. must establish a “special relationship” with Japan, as it has with Britain. The U.S. and Japan share similar goals vis-à-vis Asia, including the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula, maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait, and ensuring the security of global energy supplies. In addition, Japan sits on the front lines of virtually any future showdown in Asia. “Take North Korea’s recent missile launches,” writes Feulner. “If those missiles worked, they could potentially reach American shores. But Japan knows North Korea could attack it at any time. And while Japan knows it can count on U.S. support, having its own skilled military could help deter North Korean aggression.” Japan also could serve as a check on China, which is rising economically and militarily. “Together, Tokyo and Washington can help China integrate into the world as a responsible stakeholder in the existing international system and eventually even move toward a democratic system of government,” suggests Feulner.
Regarding ballistic missile defense, the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Japan is already well underway. In December 2004, the two nations signed an agreement allowing for extensive missile defense cooperation, including the mutual transfer of related technologies. In December 2005, Japan announced that it would pay one third to one half of the cost of the joint missile defense shield, $1-1.5 billion of the estimated $3 billion total cost. Shortly thereafter, U.S. State Department released an official statement that Japan had become the U.S.’s most significant missile defense partner. Japan is currently working with the U.S. to develop and deploy the Aegis sea-based missile defense system, which features Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles deployed on Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers; as well as Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors; and tracking sensors. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
U.S. Army Activates X-Band Radar in Northern Japan
September 28, 2006 :: AP :: News
The U.S. Army has now activated an X-band radar in northern Japan to track regional ballistic missiles. On Tuesday, September 26, Brigadier General John E. Seward hosted a ceremony at Camp Shariki in the northern Aomori state to activate the X-Band radar. The system was moved earlier this summer from the U.S. military’s Misawa Air Base in Misawa, also in northern Japan. The two nations began working on the radar in 1998 after North Korea fired a Taep’o-dong 1 ballistic missile over northern Japan. The powerful X-band radar can identify objects from thousands of miles away and is designed to differentiate between decoys and real missile warheads. It is part of an ongoing U.S. and Japanese collaboration on missile defense that includes the joint production of sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptors capable of destroying incoming missiles and the deployment of land-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors around Japan. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan, North Korea
» Missile details: Tien Chi
» Missile system details for: Forward-Based X-Band Radar-Transportable, Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Israel Prioritizes Anti-Katyusha Defense Efforts
September 27, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Israel has made anti-Katyusha missile defense a top priority following Hezbollah’s rocket blitz on the country’s northern cities in recent months, reports the November issue of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. On August 19, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the defense establishment to begin developing an anti-missile system. With Iran and Syria replenishing Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal, Israeli requires a system that can be deployed quickly and presumably with U.S. funding. Peretz has appointed a panel to determine within several months the feasibility of a new laser system known as Skyguard, developed by Northrop Grumman since 2004; as well as other potential systems such as a land-based version of Raytheon’s Phalanx rapid-fire gun system, which would lock onto incoming rockets or mortar rounds and engage them with 20 mm cannon fire.
Jane’s reports, however, that Israel is at odds with the U.S. Army, which has paid the lion’s share of the costs for developing laser-based defense systems over the last decade. In early 2004, the Army shelved a project known as the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL), developed jointly with Israel, because it was too cumbersome and costly and suffered from technical problems. In addition, the U.S. Army has shown little interest in the Skyguard systems, as it prefers a fully mobile system that can stand up to the rigors of combat in the field. The U.S. is also focusing on solid-state high-energy systems, which run on electrical power rather than the chemicals required for MTHEL variants. Yet working prototypes for such systems are not expected to be ready for another four to five years, a timeframe that does not meet Israel’s requirements. (Link)
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