“35 to 40” Nations with Nuclear Capabilities
As many as 40 nations are estimated to have the capability to produce nuclear weapons, Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in an interview. In context of calling for an updated and expanded version of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), ElBaradei noted that “under the current regime, there is nothing illicit for a non-nuclear state to conduct uranium-enriching activities…or even to possess military-grade nuclear material,” he said. If one of these countries should choose to break its commitments under the NPT, it “could produce a weapon in just a few months,” or just as easily transfer materials to terrorist groups.
ElBaradei’s call for increased treaty restrictions may have merit, but only goes so far. Efforts on this front, like those of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), should continue, but be accompanied by vigorous efforts toward deploying missile defenses to prepare for the event if and when treaty measures fail. American security must not depend upon mere parchment barriers. The proliferation of nuclear technology proceeds apace with the proliferation of ballistic missiles. The United States should cooperate with stemming wholesale proliferation, but simultaneously prepare for the perhaps inevitable possession of nuclear armed ballistic missiles by ‘rogue’ states and terrorist groups.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Proliferation
Russia Refuses to Rule Out Arms Sales to North Korea
Responding to criticism that Russia has been supplying North Korea with weapons and military technology, Russian Defense Deputy Minister Michael Dmitriev claims that the ties with the Communist country have been suspended, due to North Korea’s poor economic state. While admitting international concerns about this form of aid to North Korea, Dmitriev insisted that “Because the UN’s weapon export prohibitions do not apply to North Korea, we are able to supply North Korea with weapons.”
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation, Russia
First MD Brigade Activated
In anticipation of the Alaska Ground-Based missile defense system’s activation at the end of 2004, the first missile defense brigade has been activated at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado. Composed of both National Guardsmen and regular Army soldiers, the brigade will integrate the Fort Greely, Alaska system with the overall tracking systems of Northern Command based in Cheyenne mountain.
The comments of Lt. Gen. Joseph M. Cosumano Jr., the commanding general of U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command, are particularly noteworthy, as they reflect the bankruptcy of mutually assured destruction: “The missile defense strategy of the 20th century was largely based on the concept that rational countries won’t attack each other. We’ve learned in the 21st Century that that those theories don’t apply anymore. Hostile states, and even non-state hostile groups, now either have or are working on long-range missiles. This activation today of an important part of our homeland defense strategy allows us to defend against that threat.”
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - American
North Korea Shipped 400 SCUDs to Middle East
A report released by the South Korean defense ministry claims that North Korea has shipped over 400 SCUD-class ballistic missiles to the Middle East since the 1980s. The biggest buyers were Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, but also include Egypt and Libya. Increasingly, the Communist government of North Korea continues to rely upon missile exports for its single largest source of currency. Sales have been estimated at around $500 million since the mid-80s.
(Article, Link)
» World Tribune on NK missile sales
» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: Scud B variant, Sergeant, Shahab-3
Soviets Deployed Smallpox Biological Weapons on ICBMs
The Soviet Union had deployed ICBMs armed with smallpox, according to Ken Alibek, a former senior scientist in Moscow’s biological warfare research program, who defected to the US in 1992. Alibek said that it was “absolutely obvious” that the potential of such biological weapons, which had been deployed in the 1960s, “would exceed some forms of nuclear weapons.”
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia
U.S. to Resume Vital Tritium Production
The production of Tritium, an important component to the American nuclear arsenal, on hold since 1988, will now resume. Because the hydrogen isotope decays over time (half life of 12 years), new Tritium must constantly replace the old to even maintain the nuclear stockpile in functioning condition. Despite complaints from disarmament enthusiasts, the Tennessee Watts Bar nuclear reactor has now resumed the production of this strategic material, however, an action essential to the future of American strategic operations. Were production to be further suspended, the U.S. would have had to dip into its five year reserve beginning in 2005.
The Watts Bar reactor is located in Spring City, TN, approximately 45 miles from the town of Oak Ridge, where part of the Manhattan Project (the U.S. atomic bomb program) was located.
(Article, Link)
» Nuclear Regulation Commission Fact Sheet on Tritium
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Technology
Blimps Considered for Layered BMD Architecture
The MDA recently awarded a 40 million dollar contract to Lockheed to design solar-powered blimps which would be a part of a layered missile defense architecture. Some twenty-five times larger than those used by Goodyear, the umanned blimps with a payload capacity of two tons would remain at high altitude (65,000 ft) for up to several months at a time, for the purposes of identifying and tracking any missile launch. A prototype is expected to be completed in 2006.
Innovative efforts such as these should of course be encouraged. Serious strategic defenses demand a layered system, and air-based systems such as sensors and the air-borne laser (ABL)—both designed to complement a boost-phase interception, when the missile is the most vulnerable, should be given a role within such a system. While this sort of tracking system has certain unique mobility advantages, however, it also seems to be something of a half-hearted effort, one which works within the mainstream aversion to space-based defenses. Similar tracking systems placed in orbit would of course have a greater field of view than any craft at high altitude, and orbiting lasers would be able to intercept missiles much earlier in their ascent. Space-based defenses would also be much less susceptible to conventional attack. Similarly, the air-borne laser also has range limitations of several hundred kilometers, a distance far shorter than most ballistic missile’s paths. These systems, to be effective, would certainly have to be in the right place at the right time, and progress in these directions should not distract from the need for space-based defenses.
(Article, Link)
» Former Director of SDIO Abrahamson assisting in ambitious blimp program
» More stories on: Air, Technology, Testing - American
Bulgarian Interest in Missile Defense
Bulgarian Army Chief of Staff Nikola Kolev recently expressed interest in missile defenses for his country. “If some countries are not dispossessed of their capabilities to build such weapons, we’ll have to build such a system sooner or later,” he said according to the Bulgarian News Network. Last month news reports suggested that the US was looking into cooperating with Romania and Bulgaria for a Europe-based missile defense system to protect from attacks by Iran.
The increasing interest in missile defense points toward a likelihood of a global transition from purely offensive deterrence regarding the ballistic missile threat to one which includes missile defenses, a transition from doctrines of assured destruction to doctrines of defense.
(Article, Link)
» Romania Denies Talks with US on MD
» Bulgarian FM on MD
» More stories on: Allies
New Radar Expands Capacity of Aegis BMD
Lockheed Martin’s newly unveiled S-Band radar will expand the range of the Aegis cruisers’ missile interception capacity,
Geostrategy Direct reports. The Aegis sea-based missile defense is designed to intercept intermediate range missiles. (subscription required)
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
North Korea Missile Talks with Iran
A “high-ranking official” from North Korea recently visited Iran to solicit interest in a version of the North Korean No-Dong missiles, according to Japan’s
Sankei Shimbun. The No-Dongs have a range of about 650km. North Korea reportedly received 10 million dollars from Iraq for No-Dongs which were never delivered. (subscription required)
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology
» Missile details: NHK-1/2, No-dong 1
Wortzel on the Chinese Strategy for Space
Larry M. Wortzel, Vice President for Foreign Policy and Defense Studies at the Heritage Foundation, notes that the recent Chinese foray into outer space is a marker for Chinese strategic ambitions for overcoming US missile defenses. Wortzel also indicates that the US should treat space as a viable field for defense, having already been weaponized by ballistic missiles: “Probably the most effective global ballistic missile defense system that could be deployed will be dependent on space-based interceptors and lasers.”
(Article, Link)
» Related: Space as a War Zone, notes US General
Russia Tests Another SLBM
One month after a previous test, Russia today tested another SLBM, this time with the
Arkhangelsk submarine firing the missile from the White Sea into the Kura testing ground in the Kamchatka Peninsular. The identity of the missile was not given.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Testing - Foreign
Iskander Upgrades Designed to Outpace Patriot
One of Russia’s export ballistic missiles, the Iskander-E, which it has marketed to countries such as Syria and Iran, will soon be undergoing upgrades, although still in development. These upgrades are meant to permit the missile to overcome the US PAC-3 Patriot defensive system. The Iskander, also known as the SS-26, carries a single warhead of 480 to 700kg, and has a range of 280km.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: Taep'o-dong 2
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Lockheed Gets Sea-Based Contract
Lockheed Martin has been awarded an $812 million dollar contract to field and deploy the Aegis sea-based portion of the US missile defense system.
(Link)
» MDA Contracts
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Pakistan Tests Shaheen
Pakistan has tested its Shaheen-1 ballistic missile, just days after a test launch of the Ghaznavi (Hatf-3). The Shaheen 1 (Hatf-4) is nuclear capable, and has a range of 1,000km, although the AFP reports a range of 700km.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 3, Hatf 4
Russia Not Neglecting Space
The commander of Russia’s Space Troops said in a recent speech that he hopes Russia will “renovate practically all key elements of its space assets” in the five or six years, notes the American Foreign Policy Council, citing a story by Itar-TASS. The AFPC editor notes that in July 2002, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Yakovenko argued that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty does not in fact prohibit signatories such as Russia from putting “other weapons” besides weapons of mass destruction into outer space. This of course raises the question of whether Russia will pursue anti-satellite (ASAT) or space-based missile defenses.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Space-Based Systems
Putin Orders SS-19 Buildup
Amidst phasing out the older SS-18 ICBMs, Russian President Putin has now ordered the transfer of dozens of the more advanced SS-19s to combat ready deployment. “I am speaking here about the most menacing missiles, of which we have dozens, with hundreds of warheads,” noted Putin. The SS-19, suited to carry 6 nuclear warheads in MIRV configuration, has a range between 9,000 and 10,000km.
(Article, Link)
» Moscow Times: Russia Deploying dozens of ‘banned’ SS-19s
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
Congress Approves 9.1 Billion MD Budget
Congress today approved the $9.1 billion missile defense budget request by President Bush.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Budget, Policy
