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U.S. Sanctions Indian Firms for Missile-Related Proliferation to Iran

The U.S. will impose sanctions on two private Indian companies for missile-related transactions with Iran, reports Reuters. The identity of the Indian firms has not yet been released, although one U.S. official said that the transfers took place in the first half of 2005 and involved “dual-use items related to missiles.” Since 2003, the U.S. has filed at least eight non-proliferations sanctions against at least seven Indian companies or persons, not including the two new firms. By comparison, the U.S. has sanctioned Chinese companies 70 times over the past six years. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: India, Iran, Proliferation

Taiwan to Upgrade to Tien Kung-2 SAM

Taiwan plans to retire its Tien Kung-1 (Sky Bow-1) surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and upgrade to the Tien Kung-2 (Sky Bow-2), reports Jane’s Missile and Rockets in the August 1 issue. The Tien Kung-1 was developed by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology during the 1980s, and entered service in 1993. It is a single-stage, medium-range SAM similar to the U.S. Patriot interceptor. The Tien Kung-2 is an improved Tien Kung-1 with an active-radar terminal seeker, rather than the semi-active seeker used by its predecessor. The Tien Kung-2 is reportedly longer and heavier than the Tien Kung-1, with a range of 120 km. It is believed to carry a 90 kg high explosive warhead. Jane’s also reports that Taiwan has developed a surface-to-surface variant of the Tien King-2 known as the Tien Chi (Sky Halberd). Based on reports from the Chung Shan Institute, the Tien Chi has a range of 300 km and can carry a 500 kg payload. (Link) 

» More stories on: Taiwan

» Missile details: Trident C-4

Reports: North Korean Taep’o-dong Exploded 1.5 km from Launch Site

U.S. military sources report today that the Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile test fired by North Korea on July 5 exploded in midair within some 1.5 kilometers of its launch site. The new information contradicts earlier claims by the Japanese government, which had estimated that the Taep’o-dong 2 had reached the Sea of Japan 400-600 km away from the Musudanri missile base in North Hamgyong Province. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: North Korea, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: Tien Ma 1

Pentagon Studies Linking THAAD X-Band Radar to Sea-Based Interceptors

The U.S. Army is considering ways to create an “instant” missile defense capability by combining forward-based X-band radars on land with sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptors, reports the August 2 edition of Jane’s Defence Weekly. According to Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen, head of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defence Command, the Army is looking at the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) radar as a “deployable asset.” The forward-based X-band radar is a highly mobile, land-based, radar system that was designed for deployment in strategic areas overseas in order to provide advance warning of potential ballistic threats from locations near a missile’s launch. (Link) 

» More stories on: Policy

» Missile system details for: Forward-Based X-Band Radar-Transportable, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

NYT Profiles THEL System

The New York Times recently profiled the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL), a joint U.S.-Israeli development program that was canceled in September 2005. The project was conceived in the mid-1990s when Hezbollah guerrillas began firing Katyusha rockets at northern Israel. The contract was approved by the U.S. and Israel in April 1996, and work began at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The prototype THEL was roughly the size of six city buses, and included a chemical laser, fuel tanks, a rotating mirror, radar, and a command center. In 2000, the laser successfully destroyed an armed Katyusha in a test at White Sands, and soon thereafter shot down two dozen more. Despite these successes, the system was judged “too costly, feeble, and unwieldy for battlefield use,” according to the Times. The article quotes Yiftah S. Shapir, a military analyst at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, who said that one Hezbollah guerrilla with a rocket launcher could fire 40 Katyushas in less than a minute, meaning that Israel would have had to deploy “a few dozen of these systems” at the Lebanese border. Firing THEL just once would have cost roughly $3,000, and if properly deployed the system would have likely run into the billions of dollars. David Siegel, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, concurred with Shapir’s analysis. “The program was terminated because of its prohibitive costs,” he said.
        All the same, Israel now has no defense against Katyusha rockets, and is paying the price in many ways. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Israel, Terrorism

» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL), White Sands Missile Range

NORAD to Leave Cheyenne Mountain

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will transfer its surveillance operations from Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to an office building near Peterson Air Force Base several miles away. The Washington Post reports that Cheyenne Mountain will be placed in “warm standby,” which means that it could be reopened in hours should the need arise. Despite the fact that the Pentagon spent about $700 million in early warning upgrades to Cheyenne Mountain following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Navy Admiral Timothy J. Keating, commander of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command, created a group in February 2006 to consider moving the NORAD surveillance operation to Peterson AFB. The study recommended the move for operational and budgetary reasons, said a Northern Command statement yesterday. The purpose for housing the NORAD center underground was of course to shield the vital center from strategic attack.
        According to The Washington Post, “the military concluded that it no longer needed to be concerned about an intercontinental nuclear missile”—a remarkable statement. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Budget, Nuclear Weapons, Policy

MDA Considers Caucasus for Possible X-Band Radar Site

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has identified the Caucasus region as a possible location for the deployment of a mobile X-band radar, reports Jane’s Defence Weekly in the August 2 issue. Rick Lehner, an MDA spokesman, recently told Jane’s that the region would be a “good location for a small X-band radar to provide tracking and discrimination of missiles launched from Iran.” Lehner’s comments followed the release of an MDA fact sheet for Block 2008 development that referred to an unnamed country in the Caucasus as a potential site for transportable sensors. The disclosure has prompted speculation as to whether MDA is considering Georgia, which has extensive military cooperation with the U.S., or Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran and has reportedly received U.S. funds for the construction of two radar installations. (Link) 

» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Iran, Detection and Tracking

Pentagon Seeks Low-Cost Satellite Capability

U.S. military commanders are seeking smaller, cheaper satellites to aid in a variety of tactical missions, reports the August 2 edition of Jane’s Defence Weekly. After years of cost overruns and schedule slips in its space programs, the Pentagon launched the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program in 2003 to focus on cheap, light, flexible satellites that could be used in tactical situations to aid ground forces. The satellites would only be expected to have a lifespan of about a year, and would conduct missions ranging from the detection of missile launches to on-the-ground communications and maritime tracking. U.S. Strategic Command, in particular, is seeking satellites for operations such as “strategic electronic warfare,” reports Jane’s. (Link) 

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems

Britain Backs Off from Replacing Trident Fleet

The British government indicated on Wednesday, July 26, that it will maintain its existing fleet of Trident submarines rather than invest in a new nuclear missile system. The remarks were in response to a report by the Commons defense committee which chastised the government for not explaining “the purpose and continuing relevance of nuclear deterrence.” The government replied that it “would be possible” to continue operating the existing submarines beyond the original timescale. The submarines were designed to last approximately 25 years, which means they would start being withdrawn from service late in the next decade. The government said yesterday that the vessels could be kept on until the mid-2020s, “albeit with gradually increasing cost and some increasing risk of reduced availability.” The alternative would be to replace the Trident missile system and four submarines, which could cost as much as £25 billion. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Nuclear Weapons

» Missile details: Trident C-4

Kennedy Participates in Roundtable on Missile Defense Policy

Brian T. Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute, participated in a roundtable discussion on U.S. missile defense policy on Tuesday, July 25, in Washington, D.C. The roundtable discussion was organized by Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., president of the Center for Security Policy, and featured leading U.S. congressmen, government officials, and missile defense experts. The discussion addressed two main questions: What are the needed enhancements in the U.S. missile defense shield, and how can they be most efficiently and cost-effectively accomplished?
        Participating in the roundtable were Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), who gave the keynote address; Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph, and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces and Policy Dr. Keith Payne, who both discussed the emerging nuclear and ballistic missile threat; Missile Defense Agency Director Lieutenant General “Trey” Obering, who discussed whether or not the Bush administration’s missile defense policy is adequate; Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), who gave the luncheon address; and Ambassador Henry Cooper, who joined Brian Kennedy in a discussion of what additional steps the U.S. should be taking in the development of a missile defense shield. The roundtable highlighted the recent Independent Working Group report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. (Link) 

» Read the 2007 report: The Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (8 MB)

» More stories on: Policy

Congressman Franks Speaks on Missile Defense, IWG Report

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today delivered the keynote address at a Heritage Foundation panel discussion on the current threat of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and the recently released report by the Independent Working Group. “Americans already believe that this country has a missile defense system set up that will defend them against weapons from North Korea, Iran, or even perhaps Russia or China. They are sorely mistaken,” Franks said. “Our enemies already have the will to use nuclear weapons to cause death and destruction of catastrophic proportions to the United States. All they need is the means to do it.”
        Congressman Franks strongly endorsed the newly released report by the Independent Working Group (IWG), entitled Missile Defense, the Space Relationship and the Twenty-First Century, which provides a roadmap for the development and deployment of a robust, layered, and effective U.S. missile defense shield. “With the genius of America’s scientific community, there is no doubt in my mind that we have the means to defend ourselves,” Franks noted. “All we need now is the political will to carry out what the American people demand of us: to protect and defend this nation and her sovereignty.”
        Other members of the panel included IWG members Baker Spring of the Heritage Foundation, Jeff Kueter of the George Marshall Institute, and Dr. Robert Pfaltzgraff of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and co-chair of the Independent Working Group. (Article, Link) 

» Read the 2007 report: The Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (8 MB)

» More stories on: Policy

Russian SS-18 Profiled

The Russian weekly Argumenty i Fakty recently published a profile of the SS-18 Satan (RS-20 Voyevoda) intercontinental ballistic missile. At 210,000 kg, the SS-18 is the largest of the fourth generation Soviet intercontinental-range missiles and the only “heavy” missile allowed under the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II). The report notes that the SS-18 is “well equipped with 10 powerful warheads,” for each of which “the enemy will have to use 3-10 antimissiles.” In recent weeks, a modified SS-18 known as the Dnepr carrier rocket has been used to launch civilian satellites. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia

» Missile details: SS-20

LA Times: North Korea-Iran Ties Strengthening

The Los Angeles Times today published a report on the growing ties between North Korea and Iran, including the possible sale of ballistic missiles to Tehran. The report quotes Israeli intelligence sources, who believe that the Islamic Republic recently bought 18 intermediate-range missiles from Pyongyang. In April 2006, Israeli intelligence chief Amos Yadlin stated that Israel had evidence that the sale had taken place, and that the 18 missiles in question were based on the Russian SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile. According to Yadlin, the North Korean variant has a range of 2,500 km, which would allow Iran to attack Israel and much of southern Europe. The Los Angeles Times also quotes Uzi Rubin, former head of the Israeli missile defense program, who recently stated that Iran is also interested in North Korea’s long-range Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile, which would greatly extend its striking power.
        According to the Times, the North Korea-Iran nexus dates back to the 1980s when Pyongyang sold missiles and launchers to Tehran for use in the Iran-Iraq War. The two nations later collaborated on the development of Iran’s Shahab missiles, which are based on the North Korean No-dong. In recent years, satellites have spotted Iranian cargo planes at Pyongyang’s Sunan Airport, and U.S. intelligence now believes that Iran conducted a missile test on North Korea’s behalf on at least one occasion. Last week, reports emerged that Iranian observers had been on hand to witness North Korea’s July 4 test launch of seven long- and short-range missiles, including the Taep’o-dong 2. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Iran, Israel, North Korea, Proliferation

» Missile details: SS-N-17, Tien Ma 1

Russian Dnepr Launcher Crashes in Kazakhstan

A Russian Dnepr carrier rocket carrying 18 mini-satellites crashed today in a remote area of Kazakhstan shortly after its lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, reports RIA-Novosti. The Dnepr carrier rocket, a civilian version of the heavy SS-18 Satan (RS-20 Voyevoda) intercontinental ballistic missiles, experienced a second stage breakdown 86 seconds into its flight. Russia has been using converted ballistic missiles to launch satellites into orbit since 1999. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: SS-20

» Missile system details for: Baikonur Cosmodrome

Coyle Takes Aim at Brilliant Pebbles

Philip Coyle, senior advisor at the Center for Defense Information, was recently quoted in the UPI on the issue of space-based missile defenses and in particular, the Brilliant Pebbles defense system. “The idea was that a small satellite with good brain [sic] that would see enemy missiles and dash off after it, hit it and knock it down,” he said, but noted that such a concept would have required numerous satellites, perhaps as many as 1,000 to be effective. “You can’t have one interceptor parked over North Korea,” he argued. “You need another to take its place.” Coyle also questioned the monetary feasibility of the program. “It would be, by all measures, very expensive. And it’s still problematic as to whether it would work. They’ve been projecting [costs] for at least 20 years and it doesn’t seem to happen.”
        Would Brilliant Pebbles work? Coyle does not mention that Brilliant Pebbles had successfully completed its simulation stage and was ready to move to the proof-of-concept, prototype, and performance testing stages when it was effectively starved of funding as the Clinton administration came to power. Nor does he mention that in 1994 NASA launched a deep-space probe mission known as “Clementine,” constructed with first-generation Brilliant Pebbles hardware. The mission, which cost $80 million, effectively “space-qualified” Brilliant Pebbles technology, even though the missile defense program had already been eliminated.
        Would Brilliant Pebbles be too expensive? The newly released report by the Independent Working Group entitled Missile Defense, the Space Relationship and the Twenty-First Century—the report cited by the UPI piece—puts the total cost of a 1,000-satellite constellation of Brilliant Pebbles at $16 billion, based on the fully approved Defense Acquisition Board plan from 1991. The figure includes the costs of developing, testing, deploying, and operating Brilliant Pebbles over a 20-year period using a low-to-moderate risk, event-driven acquisition schedule. Many would agree that $16 billion dollars is a small price to pay for the protection of the U.S. and its allies from ballistic missile attack and nuclear devastation.  (Article, Link) 

» Read the 2007 report: The Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (8 MB)

» More stories on: Allies, Policy, Space-Based Systems

» Missile system details for: Brilliant Pebbles

MDA Officials Complete Visit to Czech Republic, Possible Decision in August

U.S. experts from the Missile Defense Agency have completed their inspection of three military sites in the Czech Republic that could host a possible U.S. missile defense site, reports the Czech News Agency (CTK). According to Jan Pejsek, a Czech Defense Ministry spokesman, the U.S. experts concluded that all three locations—Libava in North Moravia, Brdy in Central Bohemia, and Boletice in South Bohemia—would be suitable for the deployment of U.S. missile defense assets. The team spent one week examining the three sites, making note of the existing infrastructure, transportation and communication options, and geological and water conditions. Defense Minister Karel Kuehnl told CTK that the results of the U.S. visit could be released at the end of August. If MDA decides that it wants to establish a base in the Czech Republic, the Czech government and parliament would first have to approve the construction of the base. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Policy

Missile Defense “Concept of Operations” Plan Perhaps Ready by Fall

Reuters reports that the Pentagon is working on a “concept of operations” plan that maps out how regional commanders would be able to use the U.S. missile defense system. Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen, commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, told industry executives and congressional aides today that he expects the plan to be completed by October or November 2006. Dodgen added that further improvements to U.S. missile defense might include the deployment of additional interceptor missiles and sensors, and further development of the system’s capabilities, including better defenses against cruise missiles. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Policy

Senate Eliminates Funding for Conventionally Armed Trident-2 Missiles

On Thursday, July 20, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee cut funding for the Navy’s Conventional Trident Modification Program, a Bush administration plan to arm Trident-2 ballistic missiles deployed on submarines with conventional, as opposed to nuclear weapons. Global Security Newswire reports that the committee cut all but $5 million of the $127 million in initial funding for fiscal year 2007. It directed the remaining $5 million to merely fund a National Academy Sciences study, due March 15, 2007, that would analyze the military’s need for such a system, and recommend alternatives. Supporters of the Conventional Trident Modification Program have argued that it would give the U.S. a global strike weapon against elusive targets in the war on terrorism. Opponents have argued that such a weapon could cause Russia, China, or another third party to mistakenly perceive a U.S. nuclear missile attack. In a report accompanying the defense appropriation bills, the Senate Appropriations Committee wrote its belief that “fundamental issues about the use of this weapon must be addressed prior to investing in this effort.” It added: “It is not clear that other potentially less provocative alternatives, such as land and air-based options, have been considered.” (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Budget, Policy

Gaffney: Missiles Abroad Should Concentrate the American Mind

The development, deployment, and proliferation of ballistic missile technology abroad requires a “concentration” of American minds and a concerted effort to develop robust missile defenses, writes Frank J. Gaffney Jr., president of the Center for Security Policy, in The Washington Times. Gaffney catalogues the missile threats that have grown in recent years: North Korea’s readiness to sell missile technology to willing buyers; Pakistan’s intention to build as many as 40 to 50 nuclear warheads per year; Iran’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology; China’s ever increasing missile arsenal; and Russia’s development of newer intercontinental ballistic missiles possibly with maneuverable re-entry vehicles.
        Gaffney makes particular note of the fact that Iran has test launched a short-range Scud missile off of a ship, which would allow it to attack the U.S. without developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. He also points out that Iran has tested its medium-range Shahab-3 ballistic missile in a manner that appears designed to detonate a nuclear weapon in space. Such a detonation above the U.S. would result in an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) capable of wiping out electrical systems and crippling the U.S. infrastructure and economy.
        Gaffney suggests that the Bush administration carefully examine the newly released report by the Independent Working Group, entitled Missile Defense, the Space Relationship and the Twenty-First Century, which lays out a roadmap for the development and deployment of a robust, layered, and effective U.S. missile defense shield. The report calls for the deployment of space-based defenses and the expansion of sea-based defenses, and describes ways in which the necessary technical, public, and political support can be obtained and sustained.  (Article, Link) 

» Read the 2007 report: The Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (8 MB)

» More stories on: Analysis, Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Weapons, Iran, Ship-Launched Threat

» Missile details: Scud B/C/D variants, Shahab-6

Successful Test of Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) Thruster

On July 16, a Lockheed Martin-led team completed initial testing of the kill vehicle divert thruster for the Missile Defense Agency’s Multiple Kill Vehicle Payload System. Using what is known as the “many-on-many” strategy, the Multiple Kill Vehicle system deploys multiple exoatmospheric kill vehicles from one interceptor missile (as opposed to the previous designs which included only one kill vehicle). If successfully completed, the many-on-many approach will allow one interceptor to target and destroy an enemy missile and its deployed countermeasures, thus conserving resources and reducing the need for extensive pre-launch intelligence.
        In the recent tests, the prototype thruster and valve combination of the Multiple Kill Vehicle’s divert and attitude control system was successfully demonstrated using a liquid monopropellant. The divert and attitude control system positions the kill vehicle to intercept its target. The tests were completed by Aerojet, a Lockheed Martin subcontractor, in its facilities in Redmond, Washington. (Article, Link) 

» MDA press release on MKV test

» More stories on: Testing - American

» Missile system details for: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV)

India Test Launches Two Trishul SAMs

India today test fired two short-range Trishul surface-to-air (SAM) missiles from the test range at Chandipur-on-Sea, 15 km from Balasore, reports the Times of India. Hailed as the country’s “most sophisticated” SAM, the Trishul is about 3 meters in length, 200 cm in diameter, flies at supersonic speeds, and is capable of carrying a 15-kg payload. It is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine, and has a range in excess of 9 km. The Trishul was initially designed to intercept sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, but can also engage aircraft and helicopters. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign

Ivanov Visit May Signal Renewed Submarine Ambitions in Russia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov’s recent visit to a major submarine plant on the White Sea may signal Russia’s intention to modernize its Navy, according to analysis by Russian media sources. The RIA-Novosti and Itar-Tass news agencies report that Ivanov on Friday toured the Sevmash shipyards, in the Severodvinsk region, where the new Borei-class nuclear submarines are being built. The Borei is being manufactured by the St. Petersburg-based corporation Rubin under the moniker “Project 955.” Central to this project is the new D-19M missile system being developed for these submarines, which can carry up to 12 Bulava (SS-NX-30) ballistic missiles. According to Ivanov, the new Borei-class submarines are on schedule to enter service with the Russian Navy in 2007. Three are currently under construction at Sevmash, including the Yuri Dolgoruky, the Aleksandr Nevskiy and the Vladimir Monomakh. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Sea-Based Systems

» Missile details: SS-26

Japan Scheduled to Deploy Six Aegis Ships by 2008

Japan plans to deploy a total of six Aegis-quipped warships by the spring of 2008, reports Kyodo. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has already deployed four Aegis destroyers, the Kongou and Choukai, both based in Sasebo, the Myoukou in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, and the Kirishima in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. A fifth warship, the Atago, is to be commissioned next spring and deployed at Maizuru. A sixth Aegis destroyer is under construction in Nagasaki, and will be deployed at Sasebo after its completion in the spring of 2008. Five of the six Aegis warships will be deployed along the Sea of Japan to provide a defensive shield against the threat of ballistic missile attack from North Korea. All of Japan’s Aegis warships are currently equipped with SM-2 interceptors, although the MSDF is planning to upgrade them to SM-3 interceptors, capable of hitting ballistic missiles at a far higher altitude. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Japan, Sea-Based Systems

» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense

Kennedy on the Common Sense of Missile Defense

Brian T. Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute, explains in Investor’s Business Daily why missile defense is a common sense necessity in the age of rogue nations such as North Korea. Kennedy notes that while most U.S. policymakers seem to believe that Kim Jong Il would never launch a missile at the U.S., such a scenario exists. He sketches out a plausible scenario that Kim Jong Il might arrive at the conclusion that a nuclear attack against the U.S. might not even bring about a retaliatory strike from Washington:

Imagine Kim Jong Il calculated that he could launch a nuclear missile against Seattle—well within range of his Taepodong-2 missile. He would first recall that the U.S. did not use nuclear weapons during the Korean War, Vietnam War, Iran hostage crisis, bombing of Marines in Beirut, terrorist attacks by al-Qaida throughout the 1990s or the 9-11 assault.

In each case, measured military action was taken, great effort was made not to endanger civilians and a central concern was not provoking hostilities with China or Russia. Second, Kim Jong Il might be convinced that China will defend the North Koreans as it has in the past. So what would happen?

Assume China does move to protect the North Koreans in their folly. Chinese President Hu Jintao calls President Bush and declares that the North Korean attack on Seattle was an awful crime, but that any nuclear retaliation will be seen by the Chinese as an attack on China itself. He pledges to help the U.S. rebuild Seattle and promises to deal harshly with the North Koreans.

Likewise, President Vladimir Putin calls to second his Chinese counterpart: Russia, too, will assist in rebuilding and offers to help negotiate a cease-fire—claiming that the last thing the world needs is a nuclear attack by the U.S. on North Korea….

It is possible, perhaps likely, that the U.S. would launch a counterattack using nuclear weapons. This would fulfill the premise of mutually assured destruction, and require a large-scale nuclear attack to destroy the North Korean regime and its military capabilities—especially since the prospect of a North Korean invasion of the South would become a real possibility under such uncertain circumstances.

But would the U.S. attack if it meant a possible nuclear war with China and Russia? Bush is a courageous and patriotic man. But to avoid a full-scale nuclear war and the annihilation of millions of Americans, is it possible that a U.S. president might not retaliate using nuclear weapons and instead accept such an attack as an unfortunate catastrophe that might lead to the unthinkable nuclear war between the superpowers?

 (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Analysis, North Korea, Policy

Russia, India to Produce 1,000 BrahMos Cruise Missiles

Russia and India plan to manufacture 1,000 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles over the next 10 years through their joint venture company, reports the Indian news agency PTI. Of these 1,000 missiles, nearly 50 percent will be exported to client states. Russia and India have already invested $300 million in BrahMos Aerospace, which drew upon technological skills and capabilities from both countries to design, develop, and manufacture the missile. The 2,500-kg BrahMos has a strike range of 290 km and a maximum speed of Mach 2.8 (approximately one kilometer per second). (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Cruise Missiles, India, Proliferation, Russia

Solovtsov to Inspect Topol-M Deployment

Colonel-General Nikolay Solovtsov, commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops, will inspect the deployment of the first mobile Topol-M (SS-27) intercontinental ballistic missiles at the Teykovo missile formation in Ivanovo Region on Thursday, according to Interfax. The Topol-M, both mobile and silo-based versions, will constitute the future backbone of the Strategic Missile Troops after the decommissioning of the RS-12M Topol (SS-25), RS-18 Stiletto (SS-19), and RS-20 Satan (SS-18). The Topol-M is 22.7 m in length, 1.95 m in diameter, and weighs 47,200 kg. Its three engines ensure a higher speed than in previous models, and its range is in excess of 10,000 km (10,500 km by some estimates). In recent months, Russia’s political and military leaders have said that the Topol-M is capable of overcoming all current missile defense systems. According to the Interfax report, “Several dozen additional engines and control equipment ensure a route that cannot be traced by the enemy.” It adds: “Topol-M developers claim that the system is fully immune to electromagnetic pulses.” (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia

» Missile details: SS-N-6

Israel-Lebanon Conflict Fueled by Iran

The ongoing conflict in Israel and Lebanon demonstrates the widespread character of the war on terrorism, the expanding regional influence of Iran, and, more specifically, the Islamic Republic’s complete willingness to proliferate ballistic and cruise missile technology to terrorist entities it considers to be political and military allies.
        Over the past week, Western intelligence officials and experts have concluded that the Iran-sponsored Lebanese terrorist organization, Hezbollah, has stockpiled enough firepower to sustain a protracted fight against the Jewish state that threatens all of northern Israel and possibly much further. Hezbollah (“The Party of God” in Arabic) is a Shiite organization that emerged during the Lebanese civil war in the early 1980s. It is the principal suspect for the 1983 suicide bombings of the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut. Since the 1990s, Hezbollah has built up its forces in southern Lebanon with the help of Iran, and has been intermittently firing Katyusha rockets into northern Israel. The cheap, unguided, low-flying projectiles have a range of approximately 20 km and are capable of causing considerable damage when launched into dense civilian populations. Sources indicate that many of these rockets are manufactured in Iran. Over the past week, Hezbollah guerrillas have fired hundreds of Katyusha rockets into dozens of towns and cities across northern Israel, killing and wounding civilians in the heaviest bombardment in over a decade. Hezbollah is believed to have tens of thousands of Katyushas in its arsenal.
        More worrisome than the unsophisticated Katyusha rockets are the larger, more powerful ballistic and cruise missiles that Hezbollah has obtained through Iran. Israeli intelligence believes that Hezbollah possesses hundreds of Iranian-made Fajr-3 and Fajr-5 short-range ballistic missiles, which have ranges of 40 and 75 km respectfully and allow the terrorist organization to strike deep inside Israel. On July 14, an Israeli air strike destroyed at least one Iranian-made Zelzal-2 short-range ballistic missile, according to the AP. According to officials from the Israeli Defense Force, an Israeli aircraft targeted a truck carrying an unknown number of Zelzal-2 missiles, and the force of the blast sent at least one missile flying into the air. The Zelzal-2 (“earthquake” in Farsi) is believed to have a range of anywhere from 120 to 400 km, and would be capable of striking Tel Aviv if launched successfully.
        Hezbollah has also demonstrated that it possesses Iranian copies of Chinese cruise missiles. On July 14, Hezbollah guerrillas attacked Israel’s INS Hanit Eilat-class missile corvette with an Iranian-made Noor (Tondar) radar-guided anti-ship cruise missile, according to Jane’s Defense Weekly. The Noor is an Iranian copy of the Chinese C-802 (CSS-N-8), reported to have a range of approximately 200 km. Hezbollah guerrillas fired the missile from the Lebanese shore at the Hanit from a range of 16 km, which prevented the Israelis from activating the ship’s missile defense systems. A second Noor, also aimed at the Hanit, missed and instead hit a Cambodian merchant ship 60 km away, which sank although its crew members were rescued. Hezbollah is believed to possess dozens of Noor cruise missiles.
        Finally, Iran’s well-trained Revolutionary Guard is believed to be providing on-the-ground military advisers to Hezbollah with some level of coordination with Syria, according to Anthony Cordesman, the respected Middle East expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, as well as several U.S. officials. If this report is accurate, it means that the Islamic Republic has expanded well beyond its traditional role of financier, proliferator, and spiritual ally, and could in fact be the driving political and military force behind Hezbollah’s recent and future actions. (Link) 

» More stories on: Analysis, Iran, Israel, Proliferation, Terrorism

» Missile details: Zelzal-1/2/3

WSJ on the Taep’o-dong Democrats’ Opposition to Missile Defense

Today’s lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal lambastes “Taep’o-dong Democrats” for their continued opposition to missile defense, even after North Korea’s test launch of its long-range Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile. The editorial provides a succinct history of Democratic opposition to missile defense, dating back to 1983 when Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) dismissed President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative as a fanciful “Star Wars” program. Ten years later, with President Clinton in the Oval Office, Democrats starved SDI of funding and eliminated promising research and development initiatives such as Brilliant Pebbles. Congressional Republicans managed to keep the program alive as part of their Contract with America, although they were forced to spend the greater part of the 1990s battling the Clinton administration on the issue. When President Bush withdrew the U.S. from the defunct 1972 ABM Treaty, thus allowing the U.S. to develop missile defense assets to meet the challenges of the post-Cold War era, Democrats stood in firm opposition. Former Vice President Al Gore had actually campaigned in 2000 to keep the treaty; Senator Joe Biden (D-DW) predicted that dropping out of the treaty to build missile defenses would turn the U.S. into “a kind of bully nation”; and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) warned that “we must not set aside the logic of deterrence that has kept us safe for 40 years.” Democrats remained staunchly opposed to missile defense even after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Just this year, Representative John Tierney (D-MA) attempted to cut the Pentagon’s missile defense budget by over 50 percent, a proposal that won the support of more over half of his Democratic colleagues, including would-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). This June, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) attempted to cut off all funding for the ground-based interceptor program, which was recently activated to defend the U.S. against a potential North Korean missile attack.
        The Wall Street Journal rightfully takes Democrats to task for maintaining their rigid anti-BMD positions, even after North Korea’s test launching of its long-range Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile, which is capable of hitting the continental U.S., the growing nuclear threat from Iran, and the further proliferation of missile technology from rouge nations such as Iran and Syria to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah. The editorial correctly states that, although no defense system is perfect, the U.S. BMD shield has made significant progress in recent SM-3, PAC-3, and THAAD tests, provides a limited defense against North Korean missiles, adds to the credibility of the U.S. deterrent, reassures our allies abroad, and enhances U.S. influence on the global stage. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Analysis, North Korea, Policy

» Missile details: Tien Ma 1

Lettow on Reagan Legacy on Nuclear and Missile Defense Policies

Paul Lettow, author of Ronald Reagan and His Quest to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (New York: Random House, 2005), delivered a speech yesterday at the Heritage Foundation on the legacy of Ronald Reagan on the subject of U.S. nuclear weapons policy. Lettow discussed the former President’s central role as leader, visionary, strategist, diplomat, and negotiator. In particular, he touched on Reagan’s unrivalled championing of the 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which proposed to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the U.S. from ballistic missile attack. An excerpt:

Reagan saw SDI as a means of accomplishing his objective of a nuclear-free world. An effective missile defense, he believed, could render ballistic missiles “impotent and obsolete.” In his eyes, such a defense would make not just ballistic missiles but all nuclear weapons negotiable, and would spur talks, first with the Soviet Union and then with the other nuclear powers, that would result in the elim­ination of all nuclear arms. He thought that the United States could then share a defense system, and that an “internationalized” defense would serve to guarantee security in a nuclear-free world. None of Reagan’s advisers adhered to his vision of SDI as the catalyst for and guarantor of a world without nuclear weapons. But from the inception of the ini­tiative through the rest of his presidency, Reagan held unwaveringly to that vision of SDI.

 (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Analysis, Nuclear Weapons, Policy

Independent Working Group Issues Major Report on Ballistic Missile Defense

Five years after withdrawing from the ABM Treaty, the United States has so far failed to take advantage of the withdrawal and revive development of specific technologies necessary to make the nation and its allies safe from missile attack. On July 10, The Independent Working Group (IWG) issued a major report outlining the need for more ambitious efforts in ballistic missile defense policy. The report, entitled Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century, advocates the development and deployment of robust missile defense capabilities well beyond the limited ground-based system currently being deployed in Alaska and California. The Claremont Institute is one of eight public policy organizations from around the country co-sponsoring the report. 
        The report recommends that the Pentagon build on the legacy of technologies developed under the Strategic Defense Initiative of the Reagan and first Bush administrations. Sea- and space-based assets should constitute the backbone of a robust, layered U.S. missile defense shield, which ground-based systems should support. Such a shield would be capable of protecting the U.S., its allies, and troops abroad against the threat of a hostile missile attacks from any quarter. The missile threat has only increased in recent years as rogue nations and transnational terrorist organizations attempt to acquire ballistic missile technology and weapons of mass destruction. The report praises the Bush Administration for withdrawing from the 1972 ABM Treaty and beginning modest and limited deployments, but also criticizes the failure to use existing technologies to deploy a more robust system actually capable of defending the United States, our troops, and our allies.
        Changes to sea-based missile defense development programs could be made for approximately $350 million, in three specific areas. The U.S. could demonstrate a space-based missile defense system for some $3-5 billion, and field some 1000 space-based interceptors for an anticipated cost of $16.4 billion. Current expenditures for missile defense total approximately $8 billion per year.
        The Independent Working Group is co-chaired by Dr. Robert Pfaltzgraff, President of the Institute of Foreign Policy Analysis (IFPA) at Tufts University, and by Dr. William R. Van Cleave, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies at Missouri State University, and a member of the original U.S. delegation which drafted the 1972 ABM Treaty. Ambassador Henry F. Cooper, who in former roles oversaw both development of missile defense for the U.S. and was chief negotiator to the Geneva Defense and Space Talks, Dr. Robert Jastrow, founding director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Dr. Lowell Wood, a Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Commissioner on the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) were among the numerous missile defense, space, and security experts from the scientific, technical, and national security policy communities around the country who are members of the Independent Working Group.
        Members of the Working Group also include Brian T. Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute, and Thomas Karako, Director of Programs at the Claremont Institute and editor of Missilethreat.com. Sponsors and authors of the IWG report include eight think-tanks headquartered in Washington D.C., California, Alaska, Missouri, Massachusetts, and around the country.
        Further, the experts called on the U.S. to recreate and sustain the scientific and technology base—including the workforce needed—to assure U.S. primacy in space and missile defense. That job would be accomplished by revamping organizational leadership of sea and space based missile defense in the U.S., and directing the National Science Foundation and other government agencies to further emphasize research in space technologies.
        The report was released July 10 in Washington D.C., and will be followed by a series of briefings to the public and governmental officials during 2006 and 2007. 
        “We cannot be complacent about the missile defense program we have with the new threats the U.S. is facing,” said Dr. Robert Pfaltzgraff, co-chair of the Independent Working Group. “We promised ourselves an effective, layered defense with our withdrawal from the ABM treaty. It is now time to put politics aside and use the most effective technologies to make that happen.” (Article, Link) 

» Read the 2007 Report: The Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century (8 MB)

» More stories on: Resources, Space-Based Systems

» Missile system details for: Brilliant Pebbles, Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

U.S. and Italy to Sign Missile Defense Agreement

The U.S. and Italy are expected to sign a missile defense cooperation agreement by early fall, reports Inside Missile Defense. According to a Pentagon official, the agreement would be “similar to [missile defense] framework agreements with other partners.” For instance, the U.S.-British “Framework Memorandum of Understanding” on missile defense, signed in 2003, facilitates bilateral information exchanges on missile defense matters, establishes a management structure to oversee cooperative work, and prepares the way for opportunities for British companies to participate in the program. The U.S. has similar agreements with Japan, Australia, and Denmark. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies

Iranian Observers Present at Recent North Korean Missile Tests

Iranian observers were present at all of the seven recent missile tests by North Korea, according to the State Department. Speaking before a U.S. Senate hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang, confirmed that Iranian representatives had observed all seven tests, which included the launch of a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile, and six shorter-range No-dong and Scud missiles.
        In recent weeks, U.S. officials have expressed serious concerns that cash-strapped Pyongyang has been attempting to sell its ballistic missiles and possibly nuclear material. “Our understanding is that North Korea has had a number of commercial relations in the Middle East with respect to missiles,” Hill said. The worry is that Pyongyang will proliferate its technology to rogue nations such as Iran, or transnational Islamic terrorist organizations. Hill and Senator George Allen (R-VA) noted that North Korea’s ties with Iran are of even greater concern now, as the Islamic militant group Hezbollah, backed by Iran, fires its Iranian-made rockets and cruise missiles at Israel.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Proliferation

» Missile details: No-dong 1, Tien Ma 1

Taiwan Test Launches PAC-2 Interceptors, Destroys Target Missile

Taiwan launched two Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) interceptors as part of its largest-ever, live-fire military exercise. The AFP reports that the U.S.-made Patriots were fired from mobile launchers on a beach off the northeastern city of Ilan, and successfully shot down an incoming target missile launched some 30 km (18 miles) away. The military exercises, codenamed Han-Kuang 22, simulated a Chinese invasion and also included fighter jets and ground troops. “This is the first time Patriot missiles were launched before the eyes of the public … to show our determination to safeguard Taiwan,” said President Chen Shui-bian afterwards. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Taiwan, Testing - Foreign

» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

Minuteman-3 Test Launch Successful

The U.S. Air Force successfully test launched an unarmed Minuteman-3 intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The missile’s three warheads hit a water target near the Marshall Islands approximately 6,700 km from Vandenberg, and the test was said to be a complete success. Minuteman tests take place several times a year for routine testing. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Testing - American

» Missile details: Minuteman I

» Missile system details for: Vandenberg Air Force Base

U.S. to Deploy PAC-3 in Okinawa, Beginning in August

The U.S. will deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missiles in Okinawa next month, U.S. and Japanese officials announced yesterday. The Pentagon will relocate PAC-3 interceptors along with 600 troops from the Air Defense Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, to the U.S. Kadena Air Base and the nearby Munitions Storage Area on Okinawa. Japanese officials said the system is scheduled to be at least partially operational by year’s end. In addition, Japan’s Self Defense Force will begin deploying PAC-3 systems on military bases by next March. The rollout will begin at Iruma Base just west of Tokyo, spreading to three other bases by the end of 2007. Japan intends to keep deploying the system throughout the country through 2010. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Deployment, Japan

» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

U.S. BMD Delegation Arrives in Czech Republic, Russia Denounces

A delegation of about 20 experts from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have arrived in the Czech Republic to discuss the possible creation of a strategic missile defense site, reports the AFP. The delegation will visit at least three sites to examine whether they are suitable for the deployment of U.S. assets, including military zones at Jince, southwest of the capital Prague; Bolatice, in the southwest; and Libava, in the east of the country. According to Jan Pejsek, a spokesman for the Czech Defense Ministry, the visit is “the last stage in expert negotiations” before any political discussions on the matter. In recent days, the Czech media has said that Washington wants a final decision from Prague about the installation between now and the end of September. Poland and Hungary as also being considered as possible sites.
        In a harsh denunciation of the U.S. visit, Colonel-General Nikolai Yesin, the former chief of staff of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces, stated that Russia would be forced to respond if the U.S. were to deploy missile defense assets in Central Europe. As quoted by Interfax, Yesin vowed that Russia would “take appropriate countermeasures, and neutralize these systems in order to preserve its nuclear missile deterrence potential.” He added that he did believe the assertions of U.S. officials that the proposed BMD system would be deployed to defend against Iranian ICBMs. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Russia

SLIRBM Completes Successful First-Stage Booster Rocket Firing

Lockheed Martin and Alliant Techsystems have successfully test fired a first-stage booster rocket for the U.S. Navy’s proposed Submarine Launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (SLIRBM) project. The modified Orion 32-7 booster, part of a prototype two-stage propulsion system, was fired for 50 seconds at maximum thrust at an Alliant Techsystems test facility in Utah. The test demonstrated the integration of the rocket with an electro-mechanical thrust vector control system that steers the motor’s nozzle, and an avionics system that issues flight control and steering commands to the vector control system. According to Lockheed Martin, the next step will be a static test firing of a modified Orion 32-5 second-stage booster rocket.
        The SLIRBM, still in the first stages of development, would allow the U.S. Navy to strike intermediate-range targets within 15 minutes and thus maintain a prompt global strike capability. If completed, the new missile would be deployed on U.S. Navy Ohio-class Trident SSGN guided missile submarines. (Article, Link) 

Lockheed Martin Completes SBIRS Software Component

Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday, July 18, that it has completed an important software component for the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), which is currently under development. SBIRS will be a high-orbiting constellation of satellites designed to detect and track ballistic missiles all over the globe. It will replace the current Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites, which have provided early missile warning information for more than 30 years. The software developed by Lockheed Martin for SBIRS will be integrated with the system’s Pointing and Control Assembly, which operates each satellite’s highly-sensitive “staring” and “scanning” sensors. The scanning sensors are designed to detect missile launches, whereas the staring sensors are intended to lock on to the missiles themselves and transmit detailed data to other elements of the U.S. missile defense shield. The current DSP satellites, which only have scanning sensors, currently take 40-50 seconds to detect a missile launch and determine its course; SBIRS is expected to take only 10-20 seconds to accomplish this task and inform ground elements.
        Lockheed Martin has delivered the new software to Northrop Grumman in California, where it will be integrated with another system component that extracts the missile’s infrared signal from background noise and chatter. The completed payload is expected to be delivered to Lockheed Martin in mid-2007 for spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing in preparation for launch in late 2008.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems

» Missile system details for: Defense Support Program (DSP), Space-Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High)

Cornell Researchers Said to Crack Galileo Satellite Code

Members of Cornell University’s Global Positioning System Laboratory have reportedly cracked the random number codes of Europe’s first global navigation satellite, despite efforts to keep the code secret. The navigational satellite, known as the Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element-A (GIOVE-A), is a prototype for 30 satellites that will constitute Galileo, a $4 billion joint venture of the European Union, European Space Agency, and private investors. Galileo, expected to be in service by 2010, is Europe’s answer to the U.S. GPS system. Yet while the GPS signal is free to consumers, Galileo is expected to charge a fee for its PRN (Pseudo Random Noise) codes, presumably in order to turn a profit for its investors. Since Galileo and GPS will share frequent bandwidths, Europe and the U.S. signed an agreement whereby some of Galileo’s PRN codes will be made public. Yet ever since GIOVE-A began broadcasting its first signals in January 2006, none of these codes have been released.
        Enter Mark Psiaki, an aerospace engineer at Cornell and co-leader of the GPS Laboratory. In late January, Psiaki requested the PRN codes from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), the small British company that built GIOVE-A. SSTL declined his request. Psiaki decided to obtain the codes himself “just with an antenna and lots of signal processing.” His team spent an entire week developing a basic algorithm, and two weeks later they received their first signal from the satellite. By mid-March they were able to derive their first estimates of the PRN code, and on April 1 the Cornell researchers published the final version on their website. On April 3, NovAtel Inc., a Canadian-based major manufacturer of GPS receivers, downloaded the codes from the website in a few minutes and soon afterward was able to begin tracking GIOVE-A for the first time. The PRN code and the methods used to extract it were published in the June issue of GPS World. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems

Lockheed Martin to Upgrade ATACMS

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $36 million contract to update the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). The ATACMS is a medium-range tactical missile system deployed by Army units in the field. It was designed for use against major targets such as enemy troop formations and installations, and was first deployed in Operation Desert Storm and later Operation Iraqi Freedom, where 456 missiles were fired. The Lockheed Martin upgrade, known as ATACMS Unitary, will improve the missile’s accuracy and lethality, decrease the number of munitions needed for any given target, and further reduce collateral damage. The Pentagon has recently been developing more accurate weapons to enable the engagement of insurgents in crowded urban areas, and the ATACMS Unitary appears to be well-suited for this new role. The upgrade will undergo its first flight test in early 2008. (Article, Link) 

» Missile details: MGM-140A Block 1, MGM-140B Block 1A

Northrop Grumman to Provide Navigation Systems for MUOS Satellites

Northrop Grumman has been selected to provide navigation systems for the next generation U.S. military satellite communications system, known as the Mobile User Objective System Satellite (MUOS). MUOS is an array of satellites being developed by the U.S. Navy that will provide global SATCOM narrowband (384kbps and below) communications connectivity for the U.S. military and its allies. The system is intended to significantly improve communications for military forces on the battlefield. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and satellite designer for MUOS, and recently selected Northrop Grumman’s Navigation Systems Division to build Scalable SIRU inertial navigation units for the first two MUOS satellites, which are scheduled for in-orbit delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2010.
        The Pentagon’s increased reliance on space-based technologies underscores the need to defend them. As of now, assets such as MUOS remain undefended and vulnerable to foreign attack. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems

EADS to Develop Missile Warning System for Indian Air Force

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) 

» More stories on: Allies, India

Chen: China Has 820 Missiles Aimed at Taiwan

China has 820 ballistic and cruise missiles currently aimed at Taiwan, according to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian. Speaking today at a forum of Japanese scholars in Taipai, Chen stated that the People’s Liberation Army had deployed 784 ballistic and 36 cruise missiles, adding that the number of missiles is rising at a rate of 120 per year.
        Chen’s figures are in line with those of the Pentagon’s 2006 Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, released in May 2006, which estimated the number of Chinese CSS-6 and CSS-7 short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan as numbering 710-790, an increase over the previous year’s 650-730 missiles. In his statement, President Chen noted that a ten-hour Chinese bombardment could paralyze Taiwan’s communications, transportation, and command centers. He added that China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should it declare formal independence.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: China, Taiwan

» Missile details: CSS-6, CSS-7

Democrats Stand By 1998 Filibuster of Missile Defense

In light of North Korea’s test launch of a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile, Human Events recently interviewed several leading Democratic senators who had filibustered the 1998 American Missile Protection Act, which had called for deploying a national missile defense system “as soon as technologically possible.” At the time, the Democrats argued that deploying a missile defense required abrogating the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which they believed to be a key component of nuclear arms control. Human Events wanted to know whether their views had changed following recent events.
        Senator Joe Biden (D-DW) stated that he did not regret his decision to filibuster, reaffirming his belief that “missile defense is not the answer.” He added that the U.S. could always destroy North Korea’s missiles with a preemptive strike, illustrating how a lack of missile defense can force such options onto the table. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) stood by his 1998 vote as well, declaring that “Star Wars wouldn’t make us any safer today, because we spent a hundred billion dollars and it still wouldn’t work.” Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) added that “the headlong rush to get anything going might have ironically harmed our ability to proceed.” Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) also stated that he did not regret his vote.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Policy

South Korea Announces New Missile Defense Command

South Korea plans to set up a missile defense command to counter threats from North Korean ballistic missiles and long-range artillery, reports the AP. According to an official from South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the command will be established between September and October 2006 as part of the army. It will be headquartered in central South Korea, and will control the country’s artillery powers including multiple-launch rocket systems and ground-to-ground missiles. The move follows North Korea’s July 5 test launching of at least seven missiles, including the long-range Taep’o-dong 2. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: North Korea, South Korea

» Missile details: Tien Ma 1

MDA Officials to Visit Czech Republic

MDA officials will travel to the Czech Republic next week to examine possible locations for a U.S. missile defense base. According to the Czech Defense Ministry, the U.S. officials will arrive on July 18 and will examine three military areas. A similar visit has already taken place in Poland. The Pentagon hopes to deploy ground-based missile defense interceptors in Europe to defend against incoming threats from the Middle East. (Article, Link) 

» Missile system details for: Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)

Ivanov: Russia to Purchase 69 Topol-M and 60 Iskander-M Missiles by 2015

Russia plans to purchase 69 silo-based and mobile Topol-M (SS-27) intercontinental ballistic missiles and 60 Iskander-M (SS-X-26) tactical ballistic missiles by 2015, according to its Defense Minister. Sergei Ivanov, speaking before Russian defense industry officials on Thursday, said that the new missiles will be used to equip five missiles brigades. Ivanov has said earlier that Russia’s total 2006 defense order would total approximately $9 billion and would increase by 20% to 11.2 billion in 2007. (Article, Link) 

» Missile details: SS-N-6, Taep'o-dong 2

Northrop Grumman Develops Skyguard, Builds Upon THEL

Northrop Grumman has developed a new high-powered laser system known as Skyguard, said to be capable of defending against short-range ballistic missile, cruise missiles, short- and long-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The new system is based on technology developed for the highly successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL). The recently unveiled program would appear to be a purely American rebirth of the THEL program, cooperation on which between Israel and the United States has undergone some difficulties.
        In past years, THEL has successfully destroyed long- and short-range rockets, mortars, and artillery projectiles. According to a Northrop Grumman press release, Skyguard features greater power and a larger beam, which allows it to generate a protective shield of approximately 10 km in diameter. The system is designed to defend deployed forces, large military installations, civilian populations, or industrial areas.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: High Energy Defenses

» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)

Russia Launches SS-18 ICBM Carrying U.S. Civilian Satellite

Russia today launched a modified SS-18 Satan (RS-20 Voyevoda) ICBM, also known as the Dnepr carrier rocket, carrying an experimental U.S. civilian satellite known as Genesis I, reports the Strategic Missile Forces. The converted missile was launched from a silo in Russia’s southern Ural Mountains, and reached an altitude of over 500 km within minutes. The Genesis I is an experimental inflatable spacecraft funded by Robert Bigelow, a real estate magnate who is among several entrepreneurs attempting to develop a commercial space station. The Genesis I, at 4.2 m long, 1.2 m wide, and weighing 1,270 kg, is a one-third scale prototype of the commercial space station to which the company eventually hopes to transport its clients. Bigelow Aerospace plans to study its durability over the next five years. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Space-Based Systems, Testing - Foreign

» Missile details: SS-20

THAAD Test Successful, Destroys Target Missile

MDA today announced that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system successfully destroyed a non-separating Hera target missile over White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The pre-dawn test was the third of five tests planned at White Sands Missile Range to determine the effectiveness of the THAAD system.
        While the previous two THAAD flight tests, also conducted at White Sands Missile Range, were focused on interceptor fly-out and performance, the remaining flight test program is providing verification of the integrated THAAD element at increasingly difficult levels. Further testing is planned for both White Sands and in the Pacific. In all, the nine-year program to develop the defense system has cost about $4 billion.
        “This was phenomenal,” said U.S. Army Col. Charles Driessnack, the project manager for the Missile Defense Agency’s THAAD program. “It performed as expected.” This specific test demonstrated THAAD’s ability to “completely destroy that warhead so that no chemical or nuclear residue would contaminate areas” below the explosion, Driessnack said.
        The target was a Hera missile that closely mimicked the characteristics of a SCUD missile. The Hera target carried a canister of inert material to simulate chemical or biological elements such as could be mounted on an enemy missile, Driessnack said. The target missile rose roughly 200 miles above the Earth before beginning the final stage descent toward land.
        Of particular interest are Driessnack’s comments that this test indicates THAAD could be ready for emergency deployment “as soon as a year from now.” Driessnack said the system could be used “to protect our East and West coasts” from missile attack, and will be readily deployable to any region, including as part of homeland defense protection.
        THAAD is designed to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal flight phase, just seconds before they hit their intended targets. MDA plans to deploy two THAAD units, each consisting of 24 missiles, the first in 2009 and the second by December 2011, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Testing - American

» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), White Sands Missile Range

New Activity Reported at North Korean Missile Bases

U.S. and Japanese satellite photographs have detected new activity at a North Korean missile base, reports the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun. The photographs showed medium-range No-Dong missiles being set up on launch pads at a base in southeastern North Korea, as well as fuel tanks located near the launch pads. The missiles were later removed, according to the same report. On Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso also said that there were “visible signs” of missile activity near a North Korean base, presumably the same one. The new activity comes shortly after North Korea test launched as many as twelve missiles last week, including a long-range Taep’o-dong 2. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: North Korea

» Missile details: NHK-1/2, No-dong 1

Congressman Hunter Vows to Accelerate Missile Defense Efforts

Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, vowed Tuesday to increase U.S. missile defense spending, in light of North Korea’s recent test launch of a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile, reports Navy Times.
        Congressman Hunter acknowledged that he had no specific dollar amount in mind, and he did not mention where the increased funds might best be used. Nevertheless, he suggested that there is still time to alter the 2007 defense authorization bill, which is now pending before a House-Senate conference committee. He added that the cost of increased missile defense assets would not necessarily require cutting other defense programs. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Budget, Policy

Pentagon’s Demand for Commercial Satellites Skyrockets

The Pentagon’s need for commercial satellite service will increase dramatically over the next 10 years, according to a recent market study. NSR, a consultancy based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, projects that global annual government and military purchases of commercial satellite bandwidth will increase from $1 billion in 2003 to $4.8 billion by 2012, and will be $25 billion by 2016. Jose del Rosario, an analyst at NSR and author of the report, said that the Pentagon will be the main driver of the projected growth due to ongoing operations in the Middle East and domestic homeland security needs. “Although the military wants to be independent of commercial assets and launch proprietary systems, its ever-increasing bandwidth requirements necessitate the incorporation of commercial satellite assets,” he said.
        The Pentagon’s increased reliance on space-based technologies underscores the need for space-based defenses. As of now, these assets remain undefended and vulnerable to foreign attack.  (Article, Link) 

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Hungary Said to Decline Basing BMD Radars

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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Commerce: U.S. High-Tech Exports Cannot Aid Chinese Military

U.S. companies that export high-tech goods to China may soon have to verify that their products will not aid China’s military modernization. On July 6, the U.S. Commerce Department proposed restrictions on a list of 47 product classifications developed in conjunction with the Defense and State Departments. The classifications include aircraft, computers, certain software, machine tools, hydraulic fluids, and more. Exporters of such items would be responsible for verifying that China does not use its products for military purposes. The proposal promises a government-approved list of “validated end users,” those Chinese companies that have the confidence of the U.S. government. Any U.S. exporter selling goods to a company from that group would not require a license. The Commerce Department will issue its final ruling on November 3. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: China

Lockheed Martin to Build Aegis Systems for Australia

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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