DOD Report on Chinese Military Power
The Department of Defense released a report on Chinese Military Power, which details on the Chinese military buildups and overall “grand strategy.” In addition to an increase in number of short range missiles off the coast of Taiwan from 350 to 450, the rate of increase has been upgraded from an estimated 50 to 75 per year. While the Chinese would likely prefer to buy out Taiwan peacefully (as it did with the Hong Kong transfer in 1996), they are pursuing “credible military options” that would include keeping the U.S. Pacific forces at bay while pursuing a quick collapse by Taipei. The report goes on to consider China’s grand strategy in the Pacific generally.
(Article, Link)
» DOD AFPS Summary of Report
» More stories on: China
Ukraine Sells 150 More ICBMs to Russia
When the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991, Ukraine inherited the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Shortly after 1991, some 1,300 of these were transported to Russia, but 150 SS-19s were retained by the Ukrainian “space agency.”
Ukraine has now sold these ICBMs to Russia, a move which further bolsters the Russian strategic arsenal. The missiles will likely be soon put into service.
The acquisition of the SS-19s serve to replace aging and less advanced SS-18 ICBMs, which Russia recently destroyed with much press attention. The recent SORT Treaty with the United States further reduces the number of nuclear arms to between 1700 and 2200, thereby accomodating a level of nuclear parity which the the flagging Russian economy can support.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
Taiwan Requests PAC-3
Janes
Missiles and Rockets confirms that Taiwan indeed plans on purchasing the United States’ latest operational Patriot Advanced Capability system, the PAC-3. Taiwan has formally presented their request for three Lockheed Martin Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile batteries, which the US Department of Defense is said to be currently evaluating and will likely recommend, as well as early warning radar (EWR). Taiwan already has three batteries of the PAC-2.
These purchase plans coincide with continued reports that China is increasing the number of ballistic missiles positioned off the coast of Taiwan, with some 100 DF-11 and 300 DF-15 missiles, according to Jane’s August 1 edition.
(Article, Link)
» March 14 report on Taiwan’s missile defense interests
» More stories on: Allies, China, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Miller on Edward Teller
Upon the recent award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, “the nation’s highest civil honor,” to physicist, nuclear strategist, and long-time champion of missile defense Edward Teller, National Review Online republished this September 30, 2002 piece by John Miller detailing Teller’s achievements and courage.
(Article, Link)
» White House on Teller Award
» 1990 Interview with Teller
» More stories on: Analysis, Policy
Fort Bliss to Test New “Patriot Lite”
The Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas is set to test the latest configuration of the Patriot terminal defense interceptors. This “next phase” of the system is said to be smaller, more agile, and quicker to set up in the field.
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» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Technology, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Patriot
Blank on Proliferation in Asia
Stephen Blank on the growing proliferation of ballistic missiles by China and North Korea, both of which pose a great threat to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, as well as the latter’s responses with missile defense.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, Proliferation
North Korea Expands Deployment of MRBM Ro-Dongs
Seoul’s defense ministry has issued a report saying that North has “strengthened its long-range striking capability by recently deploying another battery of Rodong missiles.” The Ro-Dong missile has a range of 1300km, sufficient to reach Japan and the US base in Okinawa. The deployment mentioned in the report, which likely consists of nine additional missiles, is said to have taken place in June of 2002.
(Article, Link)
» New Rodong-1 Deployment Confirmed
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: NHK-1/2
Scientists Issue Report on Boost Phase Systems
Scientists with the American Physical Society issue a report on the technological limitations of systems such as the air-borne laser to effectively intercept missiles during their most vulnerable stage of flight, the boost phase. This report points to the admitted problems of such half-hearted systems such as the ABL which has a very limited range, while ignoring the potential and desirable solution of space-based lasers.
(Article, Link)
» American Physical Society Boost Phase Report
» Scientist Richard Garwin disputes APS report’s contention boost phase missile defense is impractical
» More stories on: Air, Policy, Space-Based Systems, Technology
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
US Continues Talks with Australia to participate in Missile Shield
The United States and Australia have been in negotiations about whether and to what extent Australia would also be interested in acquiring missile defense systems. Such participation would also likely include missile defense cooperation with Japan.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Policy
Adelman on MEADS
Ken Adelman, assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 1975 to 1977 and U.N. ambassador and arms-control director under President Ronald Reagan, discusses the “next generation” of SDI, and the capabilities of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS).
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, Land-Based Systems, Technology
» Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
Iran’s Successful Missile Tests Puts Israel Within Range
Iran again successfully tested its Shahab-3 missile, with a range capable of striking Israel. This particular test, according to Ha’aretz, “was the most successful so far of the seven or eight tests of the missile over the last five years, and has increased worries in Washington - which spotted the test with its tracking mechanisms - and in Israel.”
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Iran, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Shahab-6
Bush Pushes for New Generation of Smaller, Cleaner Nuclear Weapons
Coupled to the idea that defenses against nuclear attack are necessary is the idea that nuclear war is possible. A new, smaller and cleaner, generation of nuclear weapons weapons is necessary to a credible, because usable, deterrent.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Technology, Testing - American
