U.S. Approves $458 Million Sale of SM-3 Interceptors to Japan
June 7, 2006 :: Department of Defense :: News
The Pentagon has approved the $458 million sale of nine sea-based Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) missile defense interceptors and associated equipment to Japan, according to an announcement yesterday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Congress now has 30 days to approve the sale, after which the missiles will be deployed on Japan’s Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. The SM-3 units, along with Japan’s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, will provide an initial ballistic missile defense for mainland Japan. The sale illustrates the seriousness with which Japan treats the need for such defenses. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Aegis SM-2 Interceptor Destroys Target in Successful Test
May 25, 2006 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
The Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful test of a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2 Block IV) interceptor based on Aegis ships. Although the testing regime for the ship-launched Aegis system has been extraordinarily successful, this particular test marks the first time in which a ship-launched interceptor has ever destroyed a ballistic missile in its “terminal,” or descent phase. The Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie conducted the interception of a short-range target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.
The intercept also tested whether a missile could be destroyed in its terminal phase by means of an explosive, with a blast nearby, as opposed to a purely kinetic interception: “In today’s test, the threat missile was completely destroyed by the combined effects of these two mechanisms,” according to the agency’s press release. The press release continued:
The modified Aegis Weapon System and the modified SM-2 Block IV provided the firing ship the capability to guide the missile to achieve either; 1) a direct body to body hit between the interceptor and the threat or, 2) a near-direct hit where the high pressure, heat and fragments are placed on the threat by a blast fragmentation warhead. This warhead is similar in concept to that used in the deployed Israeli Arrow system. In today’s test, the threat missile was completely destroyed by the combined effects of these two mechanisms.
“This is another example of the ongoing cooperative spirit between the Navy and the Missile Defense Agency,” said Rear Admiral Barry McCullough, Director, Surface Warfare, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. Of today’s test, Admiral McCullough commented that it represents “an important step towards the desired end-state of a robust sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense capability, and it begins to meet an immediate near-term concern of our Combatant Commanders.” The only current terminal defenses are the Patriot (PAC-3), which have not been deployed on ships.
The significance of sea-based terminal defenses is to provide a mobile capability such as could be deployed near or between an enemy’s missiles and their plausible destination. Specific applications which might be of “near term concern” to Combatant Commanders could include the potential posting of ships near a coastal target, whether near Japan or South Korea—or an American coast. (Article, Link)
» Jane’s on SM-2 terminal intercept
» More stories on: Allies, Sea-Based Systems, Ship-Launched Threat, Testing - American
U.S. to Deploy PAC-3 at Okinawa
May 23, 2006 :: News
The United States will deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missiles at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, reports Asia Pulse. The deployment will boost defenses against a possible missile strike from North Korea or China. Japan also plans to deploy PAC-3 batteries at bases in the Saitama and Shizuoka prefectures near Tokyo, among other locations. (Link)
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» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
NYT on Plans for Europe Site
May 22, 2006 :: New York Times :: News
The Pentagon is expected to choose the location for a new European missile defense site this summer, reports The New York Times. Poland and the Czech Republic are among the nations under consideration. The plan calls for the installation of 10 interceptor missiles by 2011, which would be able to defend Europe or the U.S. against Iranian missile strikes. The Pentagon has asked Congress for $56 million to begin initial work on the European site, and the final cost, including the interceptors themselves, is estimated at $1.6 billion. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
Hackett on NATO Plans
May 22, 2006 :: Washington Times :: News
NATO plans to study ways to integrate existing European theater missile defense systems, writes James T. Hackett in The Washington Times. The goal will be to create an “alliance shield” that will allow data from land-, sea- and space-based sensors to be consolidated through a unified command system and provided to available interceptors. The integration is planned to start this year. At present, several European countries possess limited theater missile defenses. Germany, the Netherlands, and Greece have Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) interceptors. Spain plans to get the PAC-2 soon, and the Dutch are upgrading to the PAC-3. Germany, Italy, and the U.S. are jointly developing the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), which will use an enhanced PAC-3 interceptor. U.S. Aegis-equipped warships in the seas around Europe are equipped with SPY-1 early-warning radars, and some will soon carry SM-3 interceptors. Spain and Norway will soon own Aegis-equipped frigates as well, and Germany plans to develop a sea-based BMD for some of its own frigates. Great Britain, Italy, and France are developing the Aster-30, a sea-based air defense system that is being upgraded to a BMD capability. Turkey has just allocated $1 billion to purchase a missile defense system. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, European Missile Defenses
Movement on NATO Defenses; Joint Russian-U.S. Test Scheduled for October
May 11, 2006 :: AP :: News
NATO experts released a 10,000-page report yesterday warning of a mounting threat of missile strikes against allied nations, and urged governments to consider plans for developing missile defenses in Europe. Marshall Billingslea, NATO’s assistant secretary general for defense investment, told reporters that the 26-nation alliance could build an effective network of sensors and interceptors to shoot down incoming missiles without over-stretching defense budgets. NATO leaders are expected to discuss the prospects of building such a defense at a November summit in Riga, Latvia. NATO is already working to develop a multimillion-euro defense system designed to provide battlefield protection to troops threatened with missile attack. The system is expected to be fully operational by 2012.
It was also announced yesterday that Russia and NATO will conduct joint theater missile defense exercises in October. According to General Yury Baluyevsky, Russian Army Chief of Staff, “This is one of the areas where we see concrete results that satisfy both Russia and NATO.” Last year, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov spoke at a session of the Russia-NATO Council, where he stressed the need to boost cooperation between Russia and NATO in the theater missile defense area. (Link)
» Voice of America: NATO Official on missile threat to Europe; defenses said feasible
» More stories on: Allies, European Missile Defenses, Russia, Testing - Russia/NATO
BMD as Koizumi’s Heritage for Japan
May 4, 2006 :: UPI :: Analysis
Japan is now America’s “most important global ally in the development of global missile defense” largely due to the efforts of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, writes the UPI’s Martin Sieff. Koizumi is required to step down in September as leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and as prime minister after five years in the top job, but “the ballistic missile defense alliance he has fashioned with the United States will live on after him.” No other U.S. ally can compare to the financial and industrial resources Japan now brings to BMD development. Japan is assisting in the development of the sea-based Aegis ballistic missile defense system; its industries are shortly expected to begin building Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles; and it has expressed its eagerness to explore airborne laser technologies. Sieff predicts that close cooperation between Japan and the U.S. will continue for many years, as the joint development programs offer a “potential bonanza” of access to cutting edge technology for Japan’s major industries. In addition, BMD has repeatedly proven popular with the Japanese public, so much that “post-Koizumi governments that might otherwise be tempted to cut back on them risk being punished in the voting booths if they do so.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Analysis, Japan
» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Rubin Interview on Iranian Capabilities
April 28, 2006 :: News
IranWatch.org recently interviewed Uzi Rubin, former head of Israel’s Arrow missile defense program. Rubin described Iran’s latest effort to field a fleet of nuclear capable ballistic missiles, assessed the threat that Iran’s missiles present to Israel and U.S. forces, and evaluated the ability of missile defenses to block an Iranian attack. He noted that a robust combination of Israeli and U.S. defenses could be “quite effective” against the Iranian threat. For instance, Israel’s Arrow program, which was specifically designed to defend against the Shahab-3, was proven successful in multiple tests against simulated Shabab-3s. Likewise, the U.S. is deploying Standard Missile-3 interceptors on Aegis-equipped warships, which have also been proven successful in recent tests. The U.S. also operates Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors, which were battle-tested during the 2003 Iraq War and shot down all targets engaged. However, Rubin noted that “we never have enough” interceptors, and that Israel and the U.S. remain vulnerable should Iran choose to launch a large-scale attack. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Iran, Israel
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Romania Again Expresses Interest In Hosting Interceptors
April 12, 2006 :: News
Romania has again expressed interest in hosting U.S. missile defense interceptors on its soil. Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu on Monday said that such a project would assure his nation’s protection and therefore “must be taken into account.” It was the first time that a Romanian official admitted that the country could host a missile defense base. Atanasiu added that Romania has made a similar offer to several countries in addition to the U.S., but referred to name these countries.
On December 6, 2005, the U.S. and Romania signed a treaty allowing the U.S. to establish military bases in Romania. One day later, the French daily Le Figaro reported that the Romanian government had already initiated talks with the U.S. concerning the possibility of hosting a missile defense base. The newspaper alleged that the U.S. preferred Romania to Poland, as the authorities in Bucharest seemed more willing to cooperate. (Article, Link)
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German Frigates to Acquire Some Missile Defense Capability
April 7, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The German Navy plans to develop a theater ballistic missile defense role for its Sachsen-class (F-124) anti-air warfare frigates, report Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. Rear Admiral Hubertus von Puttkamer, defense attaché at the German Embassy in the U.S., recently described the plans at the Navy League’s Sea Air Space symposium in Washington, DC. According to von Puttkamer, the German frigates already have the basic components necessary for such a system: Mk-41 vertical launchers, which could take Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles, and the Thales SMART-L advanced radar system.
Standard Missile-3 interceptors are currently being developed by the U.S. and Japan for use on Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. (Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
