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Iran Affirms Importance of Missiles

Speaking on February 26 to a gathering of managers of the Aerospace Industry Organization, Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani called missile technology the most important part of Iran’s military forces, according to a report translated from the Iranian Mehr news agency. The Defense Minister reportedly said that with these programs Iran had laid the foundations for the ability to defend itself in even the most difficult situations. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Iran

Russian Radar in Ajerbaijan Profiled

Russian Channel One TV profiled the Russian radar station in Azerbaijan on 26 February. The radar station is described as being similar to that at Pechora, in Russia, and having the capability of seeing anything larger than a football in space. Text of the profile: (More »»») 

» More stories on: Detection and Tracking, Russia

Pakistan Ready to “Counter” an Indian Patriot Missile Defense

In response to speculation that India may purchase the American Patriot missile defense system to defend itself against Pakistan, Pakistan’s Defence Secretary Hamid Nawaz stated that Pakistan is capable of countering India’s anti-missile defenses with more advanced offensive capabilities: “Pakistan will use suitable ways to counter it. There are many strategic and statistical ways to cope with it. It would be better that India should avoid acquisition of such weapons or system.” At the same time that he said that Pakistan could counter it, he also stated that such an acquisition would upset the strategic balance: “Patriot missile defence system should not be provided to India. It is an attempt to neutralize our strategic surveillance and missile programme. It will disturb the balance of entire region.” (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Pakistan

Sea-Based Missile Defense Intercept Successful

The Missile Defense Agency again today tested the Aegis ballistic missile interceptor system, with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor successfully destroying a mock enemy missile. The test is the fifth of six tests to have been successful.
        The target missile was launched yesterday afternoon from the island of Kauai, of Hawaii. The SM-3 interceptor was subsequently launched from the U.S.S. Lake Erie, some 100 miles from the island, and the hit-to-kill intercept took place minutes later. The U.S.S. Russell and an airborne sensor both participated in the test for the development of future tracking programs. The SM-3 interceptors are scheduled to be deployed on Aegis ships later this year. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Sea-Based Systems, Testing - American

» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD

Missile Defense Test Failure

Today the Missile Defense Agency attempted to repeat the December 15 test of the ground based midcourse missile defense system. The December 15 test attempt did not take place when the interceptor shut down in its silo rather than launching, due to a software error. The interceptor did not launch again in today’s test.
        MDA spokesman Rick Lehner is quoted as saying that today’s failure was under investigation, but that there were indications that the malfunction was the ground support equipment at the test range on Kwajalein Island, and not with the interceptor missile itself. “The interceptor itself is fine and will be used for other tests,” said Lehner, “We’ll just keep trying, keep testing and hopefully we’ll be able to do another interceptor test in the next few months, using the same interceptor.”
        The target missile, a mock-ICBM, was fired early Monday morning from Kodiak Island, Alaska. The interceptor which did not launch was located at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll in the Pacific.
        Today’s failure represents another setback for the system, and demonstrates the need for further testing, but by no means does it indicate any less of a need for a missile defense. (Article, Link) 

» MDA statement on test failure

» More stories on: Testing - American

» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)

India’s Interest in Missile Defenses

Citing an announcement by defense officials at a press conference, India’s The Statesman reports that India could establish an air and missile defense shield for a 200 square kilometer area within five or six years, quoting defense scientists said. Such a system could reportedly be duplicated to protect “big cities and strategic facilities like nuclear reactors and space launching sites against incoming missiles.” The interceptor is said to be a surface-to-air missile with a range of 80-85 km, and another interceptor with a range of about 20 km. The Akash SAM is mentioned as a possible interceptor for such a system; “Meanwhile, the Akash will have some anti-missile system capabilities.”
        As for the radars for such a system, Mr M. Natarajan, DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defense minister, said they might include a phased-array radar placed on an executive jet, such as the Brazilian Embrear. India has already purchased from Israel the Phalcon aircraft-mounted radar system. (Article, Link) 

» Jan. 25, 2005: India Daily: India pursuing manipulation of ionosphere to fry electronics of incoming warheads

» Feb. 12, 2005: Hindustan Times: India BMD to use Prithvi missile, Israeli-origin Green Pine radar

» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, India

Analysis of North Korean Announcement

On February 10, North Korea announced publicly for the first time what it had previously only stated in veiled terms, that it possesses nuclear weapons and has the intention to increase such capabilities.
        Ben Johnson and Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Cucullu analyze the meaning of such an announcement, and its accompanying pull-out from negotiations, in today’s FrontPage Magazine. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: North Korea, Nuclear Weapons

Plans for S-400 Testing in 2005

Later this year, Russian aircraft will participate for the first time in air defense exercises held jointly with other former Soviet republics. The tests will include the latest S-400 air and missile defense system, reports RIA Novosti, citing a press conference by Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force.
        Bizhev is quoted as saying that “We plan to conduct a command-and-staff training exercise at the Central Command Post in April 2005. During the exercise, we will deploy for the first time strategic aviation aircraft as test targets.” Armenia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus are each said to have requested participation in the exercise, to take place in Kazakhstan, for the purpose of testing “the full range of capabilities of the S-400 air defense complex,” said Bizhev.
        Russia has recently announced its own plans to deploy the S-400 in its own territory in 2005. The joint tests of the system would seem to indicate plans to distribute the system on a much wider basis.  (Article, Link) 

» Feb. 9, 2004: Syria wants to acquire S-400

» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses

» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Pathfinder Missile for THAAD System

The Missile Defense Agency reports an announcement by MDA head, Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, concerning the completion of a “pathfinder” missile used to verify various systems in the production of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. According to the MDA press release, “operations for assembling the first of 30 THAAD production missiles began earlier this month,” and THAAD is said to be scheduled for deployment by the Army in 2008. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Testing - American

» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

Ambassador: European-Based BMD No Threat to Russian Missiles

In an interview with the Russian Interfax news agency, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow tried to put the country at ease with the prospect of European-based missile defense interceptors, which are primarily aimed at the growing threat from Iran. Vershbow stressed that any such defense would be limited, that it would be no match for Russia’s massive strategic arsenal, and that moreover geography would make it practically irrelevant to stopping a nuclear attack by Russia on the United States, the capability for which Russia thinks it requires:

If you simply look at the globe, you can see that geographically, any systems that would ultimately be in Europe would be oriented towards threats from the south, the southwest—countries like Iran—and would have no logic vis-a-vis Russian systems, which of course go north, not west.

        To say that Russian missiles “go north, not west” is a diplomatic way of saying that Russian missiles still target the United States. The question remains, of course, whether it is the right policy for the United States to deliberately avoid missile defenses capable of providing a strategic defense, a defense against the launch of Russian ICBMs—whether “accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate,” to quote the words of the 1999 National Missile Defense Act—that is, to continue to give Russian missiles “a free ride” to U.S. territory. To avoid such a strategic defense, to avoid defenses against Chinese and Russian missiles (space-based interceptors, for example), needlessly perpetuates the regime of assured destruction, of mutual vulnerability, which the U.S. should have abandoned with the expiration of the 1972 ABM Treaty. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Allies, Russia

Syria Wants Russian S-400

Syria is negotiating the purchase of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system, said to be comparable or superior to U.S. Patriot PAC-3 interceptors. Middle East Newsline quotes “Russian industry sources” as saying that Syrian President Bashar Assad sought to acquire the system during his recent visit to Moscow. “Assad is very interested in the S-400 and apparently Syria has the money to buy this,” an industry source is quoted as saying.
        Recent news reports have confirmed that Russia will be deploying the S-400 for its own defenses in 2005.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Israel, Russia, Syria

» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Patriot Test Successful

Raytheon recently conducted a successful test of two Patriot GEM-T missiles at White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico. The test of the missiles had two interceptors target two low-flying target drones, both of which were destroyed. Raytheon is contracted to upgrade 376 current Patriot PAC-2 missiles to the more advanced “GEM-2” configuration, some 230 of which are already complete. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Testing - American

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

Bolton Blasts Chinese Missile Proliferation

Undersecretary of State John Bolton publicly blasted China for its persistent and considerable transfers of missile technology to Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, and other rogue states, in violation of its own non-proliferation pledges. Bolton delivered the firm remarks at a Japan-sponsored conference in Tokyo.
        Bolton warned that the US would move aggressively to further sanction Chinese companies providing such transfers, as it has repeatedly in recent years, which he said also included Pakistan, North Korea and Libya:
        “On numerous occasions we have expressed our concern about these entities to the Chinese government and have asked Beijing to subject exports by these serial proliferators to persistent and close scrutiny…Unfortunately, we continue to see transfers by these serious proliferators of missile-related items to rogue states and outposts of tyranny such as Iran.”
         Update: February 9: Chinese arms control official Liu Zhixian explained that China exercises strict controls any transfers of missile technology to rogue states.  (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: China, Iran, Proliferation

Russia’s Maneuverable Warhead

The site edited by Pavel Podvig, author of Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces, reports a few additional details for the February 18, 2004 test of a hypersonic and maneuverable warhead which has since been touted as another means by which Russia can overcome the midcourse ballistic missile defense system currently being deployed. 
        Citing Yuri Solomonov, head of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, Russianforces.org reports that the test may not in fact have been successful, and that the warhead may have been burned up in the atmosphere over the Svobodnyy launch site. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Maneuverable Warheads, Russia

BMD Budget Request Declines

Although the President’s requested defense spending will increase by 4% to $419 billion for fiscal year 2006, the budget request for missile defense is being cut, from 9.2 to 7.8 billion. Of that number, 3.3 billion is allocated for deploying the ground-based system in Alaska and Hawaii. The budget will be formally released on February 7.
       Missile defense is however reportedly one of the two programs highlighted in the budget summary as “essential” to military transformation.  (Article, Link) 

» DOD FY 2006 budget request details

» DOD FY 2005 budget briefing

» More stories on: Budget

Claim: Iran Developing Nuclear Trigger

An Iranian exile group recently alleged that the country, which publicly disavows the ambition to acquire nuclear weapons, has been conducting tests of a nuclear triggering mechanism. Speaking at a news conference in Paris, the National Council of Resistance of Iran asserted that Iran “is getting very close to the point of industrial production” of a neutron initiator. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Iran, Nuclear Weapons

Musharraf’s Space Ambitions

In a speech to scientists and engineers near Karachi, Pakistan President Musharraf has identified space as the next level of Pakistan’s strategic ambitions, following naturally after their established missile and nuclear capabilities, according to various Pakistani news reports. Musharraf declared his confidence that Pakistan would in the near future emerge on the space map of the world.

        Musharraf’s comments follow upon recent reports that Russia will be launching two satellites for Pakistan’s neighbor Iran, in the coming months. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Pakistan, Space-Based Systems

Chen: Chinese Short Range Missile Threat at 706 and Climbing

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian recently delivered a speech reporting that the number of Chinese short range missiles deployed off the coast of Taiwan has now reached 706. The last number reported by Taiwan’s defense minister was 600, but Vice President Lu in August of 2004 claimed that China would reach 800 ballistic missiles deployed by 2005. U.S. intelligence reports have put China’s rate of increase in missiles deployed per year at 75, but if the steady reports from top Taiwanese officials are accurate, the actual rate is considerably more.
        “I urge China to join the ranks of democratic-loving and peaceful Pacific nations and give up using military force to threaten neighboring countries,” Chen said in a speech on Monday to the parliament of the Solomon Islands. (Article, Link) 

» Aug. 10, 2004: Taiwan VP claims 800 Chinese missiles deployed by 2005

» Sep. 30, 2004: Taiwan Defense Minister says 600 ballistic missiles, 200 cruise missiles already target island

» More stories on: China, Taiwan

Russia to Launch Iranian Satellites Within Months

In January of 2004, Iran declared that within the next 18 months it would launch a satellite into orbit using its own rocket systems and doing so from its own territory, becoming the first Islamic state to do so. Recently, however, reports the Russian Kommersant, Iran has signed an agreement with Russia which will permit it to launch two satellites, named Mesbah and Sinah-1, from the Russian Plesetsk launching site. According to the Russian newspaper, Moscow persuaded Iran to do so to avoid a harsh American reaction. Both are said to be spy satellites. The Mesbah satellite is said to orbit at 900km. The Sinah-1 is said to weight some 20 kg. Other sources also refer to cooperation on a Zohreh telecommunications satellite, but Kommersant claims this project may have been a diversion.
        Iran would probably have launched the satellites using its own Shahab missile, which it claims is not intended for distances even sufficient to reach Europe. A ballistic missile capable of putting a satellite into orbit, however, is also capable of traveling long distances, indeed, nearly anywhere on earth, notes Kommersant. Kommersant also claims that Italy, China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand were each assisting Iran in preparations for the launch, but that they have since withdrawn such help out of concern for U.S. sanctions. Although Iran was also negotiating with China for such a launch, Russia is said to have stepped in to help Iran complete the project. The launch is reported to take place in the second quarter of 2005, perhaps by May, and will use the Russian Kosmos-3M launcher.
        If one gathers nothing else from this and other news of similar proliferation and military ties, it should be that Russia and China both continue to project power into the middle east, and are specifically interested in making Iran a strategic ally. Both countries do so in order to counter American force. Neither country is a friend, or ally, of the United States. Both are rather strategic competitors. Any attempt to confront the Iranian regime, its sponsorship of terrorism, its nuclear and other WMD programs, and its ballistic missile programs, would be strongly opposed by both countries. (Article, Link) 

» Geostrategy Direct on Iran-Russia satellite cooperation

» Nov. 29, 2004: Aviation Weekly & Space Technology: Iranian space interests disguise strategic missile ambitions

» Sep. 20, 2004: Iran announces plan to launch satellite

» Middle East Newsline on Iranian-Russian satellite launch plans

» More stories on: China, Iran, Russia, Space-Based Systems

Ukraine Reportedly Sold Nuclear-Capable Cruise Missiles to China, Iran

Ukrainian lawmaker Hryhoriy Omelchenko recently wrote a letter to newly elected President Viktor Yushchenko claiming that the government of Yushchenko’s predecessor, Leonid Kuchma, in collaboration with members of the military and the state arms company UkrSpetzExport sold some 20 air-launched Kh-55 and Kh-55M cruise missiles, which had the capability to carry nuclear weapons. Of these, six were sent to Iran and six to China, all between 1999 and 2001. The transfers, if true, would violate various non-proliferation agreements. Kuchma’s government is also believed to have sold advanced radar systems to Iraq in 2002, despite UN sanctions to the contrary. An American embassy spokesman in Kiev was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the United States was “aware of the reports” of such sales and took them “very seriously.”
        The Kh-55 cruise missile has a range of 3,000 kilometers, is capable of carrying a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead, and was developed for use on Russian Tupolev long-range bombers. In June 2004, Russia tested an air-launched Kh-55 which may well have been the Kh-55.  (Article, Link) 

» June 29, 2004: Russia tests air-launched cruise missile

» More stories on: China, Former Soviet Republics, Iran, Proliferation

Russia to Take Delivery of Additional Topol-Ms

Itar-Tass provides an update on the planned delivery of additional Topol-M ballistic missiles in 2005, given by first deputy defense minister Colonel General Aleksandr Belousov. The military will acquire seven new Topol-M missiles of both the silo- and mobile-based types. Itar-tass quotes another Russian Defense ministry spokesman as saying that, “The troops will be getting between three and nine launchers a year. And the combined missile force stationed in Ivanovo Region will get mobile Topol-Ms first, with several Strategic Missile Troops divisions to be armed with them in total.” The Strategic Missile Troops will also take delivery of five space rockets, noted Belousov. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia

» Missile details: SS-N-6