North Korea Set to Test Missile Engines
May 6, 2004 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Amidst global attention to Iraq prison scandals, there has been a flurry of news regarding North Korean missiles.
Most recent is a report that the small communist nation is preparing to test for the first time engines probably for the Taepo Dong II intercontinental ballistic missile, reports from the JoongAng South Korean newspaper. An unnamed official is quoted as observing that “We have confirmed that they have moved the crane that would hoist the oxidizer — the liquid fuel of the missile — and the rocket.”
The Taepo Dong I missile of a shorter range was launched over Japan in 1998. The two stage version of the Taepo-Dong II is believed to use a Chinese liquid fuel engine for its first stage, and the North Korean Rodoing missile as its second stage. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Taep'o-dong 2
THEL Tested at White Sands
April 30, 2004 :: Spacewar.com :: News
A test of the joint U.S.-Israeli anti-missile laser Nautilus was successfully conducted on April 30 at the White Sands U.S. Army base in New Mexico, reports the Jeruslaem Post. The Nautilus test was part of the umbrella THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser) project.
The primary objective of locating the missile and tracking it was accomplished, though the secondary objective, to destroy it, was not attempted, according to an Army press release.
The mobile version of the THEL has already been effective against short range Soviet-origin Katyusha rockets which are often fired at Israel from across the Lebanese border by Hezbollah groups. The THEL is expected to be battlefield ready by 2007. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Russia Tests Topol-M ICBM
April 20, 2004 :: News
Russia has test-launched a mobile-launched Topol-M (RS-12M2) missile today, Russia’s most advanced ICBM. The Topol-M is already currently deployed, but not on a mobile launcher.
The missile was fired from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia and was directed into the center of the Pacific Ocean. Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said at a conference with President Putin that the launch was similar to the one carried out last winter at Plesetsk, and that one more launch remains before a decision is made about transferring the mobile launchers into service. Ivanov also noted that the test was of the missile’s maximum range, of 11,500km. Putin responded that the launch was an “important event for the armed forces of Russia.” (More »»»)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-27
Russia Tests Tochka-U SRBM in Siberia
April 2, 2004 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
Russia has today conducted a test launch in the Trans-Baykal region of the short range Tochka-U ballistic missile. The test was part of Command Post Exercises in the Siberian Military District, and the missile successfully destroyed the hypothetical enemy’s command post. The Tochka-U, which is offered for export, is a version of the SS-21 (“Scarab B”) with a composite fuel, and an extended range of of 120 km. The Russian RIA news agency reports that the unit which tested the SS-21 today has alone had over 60 successful combat launches. (Article, Link)
» FT: Russian preparing six launches of target missiles
» BBC report of launch
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-21 B
India Tests Prithvi II Missile, Plans Agni III Test
March 19, 2004 :: London Guardian :: News
Pakistan and India continue to exchange missile tests. On Tuesday, March 9, Pakistan tested its Shaheen II nuclear capable missile. Pakistan shortly thereafter announced it would be making other tests during the year. Now today, on March 19, India responded with a test of its Prithvi II, also nuclear capable. And on March 23, India is reported to also be planning another test of its more advanced, 3000km range Agni III sometime in 2004. (Article, Link)
» Mar. 23: Wash. Times: India to test Agni III this year
» Oct. 2003: Agni III test originally postponed till January 2004
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Agni-2, Prithvi-2
Russia Tests Two SLBMs: Russian Arsenal Combat Ready
March 17, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
The Novomoskovsk nuclear submarine in Russia’s Northern Fleet today tested two RSM-54 (SS-N-23) intercontinental missiles, from a submerged position in the Barents Sea. The missiles are said to have hit their target at the the Kura testing ground on the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, reportedly some 4,500 miles away. Versions of the SS-N-23 are called “Sineva” by Russia, and “Scythian” or “Skiff” in the West. The “Sineva” version, that tested today, is believed to be armed with 10 warheads rather than the usual four, and an additional system to permit it to penetrate missile defenses.
The two missile tests follow Putin’s March 1 order that the failed launches during the massive February 10-18 nuclear war exercise be repeated. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-X-14
Pakistan Tests Nuclear Capable Shaheen II
March 9, 2004 :: Pak Tribune :: News
Pakistan today tested a Shaheen II (Hatf-6), nuclear capable missile with a reported range of between 2,000 and 3,000km. The missile is capable of reaching all of India’s major cities, and reportedly has multiple warheads. (Article, Link)
» U.S. asks Pakistan to reduce missile tests
» Pakistan to conduct more missile tests
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 6
Russia to Repeat Failed Missile Tests
March 1, 2004 :: Itar-Tass :: News
The Itar-Tass news agency reports that Russian President Putin has ordered his defense chief to redo the three failed missile tests during the massive and highly publicized February nuclear war exercise. “I task you to prepare as soon as possible new exercises, perhaps on a smaller scale, so I could make sure that all mistakes have been fixed,” Putin is quoted as saying at a meeting of top military officials.
On February 17, two SLBMs failed to launch properly from the Novomoskovsk submarine in the Barents Sea, and the following day another missile engaged its self-destruct mechanism after it diverted from its set course.
It was not clarified if these re-tests would be in addition to the ten tests already said to be planned for 2004. (Article, Link)
» Itar Tass account of order to redo tests
» Mar. 2, 2004: Itar Tass: Investigation results due in April
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
Russian Gearing Up for 10 ICBM tests in 2004
February 12, 2004 :: CNS News :: News
Russian Strategic Missile Forces head Nikolai Solovtsov is said to have told the official Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily newspaper that a total of ten “test-combat” missile launches were planned for 2004. It is as yet unclear how many of these were part of the February war games. However, so far the exercises have included two SLBM abortive launches, a Topol SS-25, an SS-19, and the launch of a military communications satellite. (Article, Link)
» Dec. 26, 2003: Russia tests SLBM, its third missile this month
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: SS-21 B, SS-N-5
Russia Begins Nuclear War Exercise; Rivals 1982 “Seven Hour Nuclear War”
February 11, 2004 :: AP :: News
Russia has begun the first stages of a massive “all-out nuclear war” exercise, according to reports from several Russian newspapers. The largest in over two decades, the war games rival the “seven hour nuclear war” maneuvers by the Soviet Union in 1982. The tests include test firings of sea and land-based ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, cruise missiles, spy satellite launches, the simulated destruction of a U.S. satellite, and a test of the Moscow ABM system.
The military exercise, overseen by President Vladimir Putin, will test the Russian nuclear triad while showing the world that Russia is still a first rate military power. Some dismiss the goals of the exercise as innocuous political maneuvers in anticipation of the Russian Presidential election in March. Officially, the exercise is said to be anti-terrorism-related. But a more likely explanation is that, like the 1982 tests, this exercise serves the genuine goals of sharpening of Russia’s offensive nuclear deterrent against the United States, overcoming American missile defenses, and upgrading Russia’s own missile defenses. As Putin commented last week, “The world should see our military power as an element of strategic security.” (More »»»)
» Update: Feb. 18: Itar-Tass: SS-19 Missile Launched
» Pravda description of nuclear exercise
» Update: Feb. 17, 2004: Two SLBM launches fail
» Russia denies Interfax, Itar-Tass reports of missile failures
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses, Testing - Foreign
