EADS to Develop Missile Warning System for Indian Air Force
July 18, 2006 :: Spacewar.com :: News
EADS Defense Electronics of Germany has signed a strategic cooperative agreement with India’s Defense Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) to jointly develop a missile warning system for the Indian Air Force. The system will be based on the EADS AN/AAR-60 Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS), an advanced, passive imaging sensor that is capable of detecting and tracking the ultraviolet emissions of approaching missiles, including heat-seeking, shoulder-launched missiles, and immediately deploying the necessary countermeasures. An EADS spokesman noted that, although the new system will initially be deployed on Indian rotorcraft such as Mi-8 and Mi-17/17M heavy assault helicopters, MILDS will also be used on fixed-wing aircraft in the future. Under the terms of the agreement, signed in June, EADS will deliver 36 MILDS sensor systems to the DARE facility in Bangalore for integration with the Indian Air Force. The system is expected to be operational in 2007 (Article, Link)
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Hungary Said to Decline Basing BMD Radars
July 11, 2006 :: News
Hungary has removed itself as a potential site for a proposed U.S. missile defense base, reports the Hungarian News Agency (MTI). The report cites defense minister Ferenc Juhasz, who told MTI on Monday that even though exploratory talks had taken place on deploying U.S. radars in Hungary, the plan has been shelved. In addition to Hungary, the Pentagon is also looking at Poland and the Czech Republic as potential sites for a U.S. missile defense base in Europe, which would protect against threats emanating from the Middle East. (Link)
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Lockheed Martin to Build Aegis Systems for Australia
July 10, 2006 :: Lockheed Martin :: News
The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin an $85 million contract to produce three Aegis Weapons Systems for Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer program, according to a press release issued today. In June 2004, the U.S. and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding outlining Australia’s future cooperation in missile defense, which included the Aegis system as well as the long-range radar project known as DUNDEE. The first Air Warfare Destroyer is scheduled to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy in 2013. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan to Deploy PAC-3 Ahead of Schedule
July 9, 2006 :: Xinhua :: News
The Japanese Defense Agency has decided to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) air/missile defense interceptors now rather than next year, reports Toyko News. The original plan had been for Japan to begin its ground-based interceptor build-up in March 2007, concluding deployment of the entire missile shield in 2011. According to the report, Japan will instead start deploying PAC-3 units immediately. The decision follows North Korea’s test launch of the long-range Taep’o-dong 2 and other ballistic missiles last week, most of which are capable of striking Japan. (Article, Link)
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Japan Wants Joint Missile Defense System “As Soon as Possible”
July 6, 2006 :: AFP :: News
Japan wants to deploy a joint missile defense with the U.S. as quickly as possible, said Japan’s Defense Minister Fukushiro Nukaga today. “Along with the establishment of a surveillance radar network, we want to work with the United States to build an interception mechanism as soon as possible,” Nukaga said, speaking before the Japanese parliament. Japan began its missile defense cooperation with the U.S. after North Korea’s 1998 test launch of a Taep’o-dong 1 ballistic missile, which flew over Japan. In June 2006, Japan and the U.S. signed an agreement to expand missile defense cooperation, committing to the joint production of interceptor missiles, and allowing the transfer of missile defense technology from Japan to the U.S. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
South Korea Requests 48 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles
June 28, 2006 :: Spacewar.com :: News
South Korea intends to purchase 48 Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IIIB interceptor missiles from the U.S. for an estimated cost of $111 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has already notified Congress of the potential sale. South Korea would deploy the SM-2s aboard its new KDX-III Aegis destroyer, which has already been integrated with the SM-2 Block IIIA and would have no difficulty absorbing the new interceptors. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
U.S. to Ask Czech Republic for Answer on Defenses
June 26, 2006 :: Defense News :: News
The U.S is asking the Czech Republic to decide by the end of September if it is willing to host a missile defense base, reports the Czech daily Dnes. The Pentagon is apparently interested in two former Warsaw Pact bases: Dobris, located 40 km southwest of Prague, and Brno, in the southeast of the country. Both used to house Soviet S-200 Vega surface-to-air missiles, and have not been used since the mid-1990s. The Pentagon plans to deploy ground-based midcourse interceptors at the new site to defend against missile strikes from the Middle East or Southwest Asia. Poland and Hungary are also potential locations for the site. (Article, Link)
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Japan to Allow U.S. Deployment of Patriots
June 24, 2006 :: AP :: News
Japan and the U.S. have agreed to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air interceptors at U.S. bases in Japan, reports the AP. The agreement was made earlier this month amid concerns that North Korea would test-launch a Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile. According to Japanese officials, the sites and timing for the deployment have not yet been decided. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported today, however, that the U.S. will deploy three or four PAC-3 batteries as well as 500-600 troops on the southern island of Okinawa by the end of the year. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Aegis SM-3 Interceptor Destroys Separating Target, Japanese Destroyer Performs Surveillance
June 22, 2006 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
MDA today conducted a successful test of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, destroying a separating target with a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor. The warhead was launched atop a three-stage medium-range ballistic missile, which was detected, tracked, and targeted by Aegis AN/SPY-1 phased-array radars. A SM-3 interceptor was launched from the Aegis cruiser U.S.S. Shiloh off the coast of Hawaii, and scored a direct hit more than 160 km above the Pacific Ocean. The test marked the seventh time (out of eight attempts) that MDA has successfully shot down a target missile with a ship-launched interceptor, and the second time that Aegis has successfully intercepted a separating warhead. Also noteworthy is the fact that the Japanese destroyer Kirishima performed surveillance and tracking roles, marking the first time any U.S. ally has taken part in a U.S. missile defense intercept test. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Israel Plans New Arrow, Mark 4
June 7, 2006 :: Defense News :: News
Israel plans to develop the Arrow Mark 4 upgrade for its Arrow anti-missile system in the wake of the growing threat from Iran, reports Defense News. According to the report, which cited Israeli defense sources, the Arrow Mark 4 will feature improved interceptor missiles, a new radar unit, and other components that will convert Arrow into an integrated nationwide ballistic missile defense system. The upgrade will be implemented by the Israel Aircraft Industries subsidiary Elta Group, the Israel Air Force, and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The U.S. is financing two-thirds of the program, and Israel is financing the rest. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Arrow
