US Ballistic Missile Defense to Enter New Domains

 

Much has been said about the US ground-based missile defense program and the sites in place or to be installed soon in Europe and Asia. But land is not the only domain where the effort it taking place. This is the time the priority is shifting to air- and space-based systems. The US officials and military leaders believe that space is now a warfighting domain on par with air, land and sea. This is one of rare issues the administration and Congress see eye to eye on.

On June 30, President Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the National Space Council – an executive agency with Vice President Mike Pence at the helm that will be tasked with guiding US space policy during the administration. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, as well as NASA’s administrator, will serve on the council as well.

ASIA NUCLEAR TENSIONS: Pakistan launch nuke capable missile after successful India test

Named Ababeel, the weapon has a maximum range of 2,200km [Getty]

 

PAKISTAN is asserting its nuclear prowess as it conducted an atomic test in a thinly veiled threat to its nuclear-armed neighbour India.

The country’s military proudly announced it had successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile for the first time.

Named Ababeel, the weapon has a maximum range of 2,200km (1,367 miles) and is capable of carrying “multiple warheads”, a statement confirmed. 

Report: Israel’s missile defense could not secure country against a missile barrage

TEL AVIV — Israel’s ballistic missile defense concept has been criticized by a leading scientist.

Nathan Faber, a leading scientist at Israel’s Technion, has warned that the nation’s missile tier network was flawed and could not withstand a sustained war. Faber said the tiered-defense concept was insufficient to counter the more than 200,000 missiles and rockets aimed at the Jewish state.

Pentagon: Growing Threat as China Expands Missile Arsenal Development

China is developing several new short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, according to a military intelligence report made public this week.

“China has the most active and diverse ballistic missile development program in the world,” the report by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center stated.

“It is developing and testing offensive missiles, forming additional missile units, qualitatively upgrading missile systems, and developing methods to counter ballistic missile defenses,” the report said.

China to Shoot at High Frontier

China needs a weak candidate who is negligent or non-chalant about America’s security and supremacy in the world. Within the first four years of the Obama administration, Chinese military technology seems to have gained near equality to its US countepart. Another four years will likely bring it to a strategic advantage over the United States. The gap might even widen enough to where we might not even be able to defend our homeland due to being blinded by the assassin’s mace.

U.S. Intelligence: China to conduct test of more powerful anti-satellite weapon capable of hitting GPS, spy satellites, but after U.S. election

China’s military is set to conduct a test of a new and more capable anti-satellite missile that United States intelligence agencies say can knock out strategic satellites in high-earth orbit, according to U.S. officials.

However, a recent intelligence assessment said the test of the Dong Ning-2 direct ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon is being delayed in an apparent effort to avoid upsetting President Barack Obama’s reelection bid, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Turkey going ballistic, eyes space-launched vehicle

ANKARA — Turkey has launched a project to develop a space-launched
vehicle (SLV).

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“The project would provide Turkey with the capability to become a satellite exporter and the military with the capability to build intermediate- and long-range missiles,” a source said.

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The sources said the ICBM project was quietly begun more than a year ago as a feasibility study financed by the Defense Ministry and Tubitak. The board did not announce the SLV project after its latest meeting, meant to discuss ballistic missile defense and naval corvette production.

Tubitak has also been contracted to develop an enhanced cruise missile. The agency was assigned to extend the range of Turkey’s current SOM missile from 300 to at least 1,500 kilometers.

Full article: Turkey going ballistic, eyes space-launched vehicle (World Tribune)

Successful US-Israel radar test launches US missile shield’s operational phase

A successful joint exercise carried out Friday, Feb. 10, demonstrated the interoperability of the US Aegis and Israel’s Arrow 4 ballistic missile defense systems and, most importantly, of their two radars, the US AN/TPY-2 X-band and Israel’s EL/M-2080 Super Green Pine, debkafile’s military sources report.

It was a key milestone in the development of the US missile shield’s Middle East capabilities ahead of a potential war with Iran and the fourth significant preparatory step taken in the last ten days.

On the East Coast of the United States, the large-scale Bold Alligator 2012 exercise is drilling amphibian landings on a fictitious Iranian shore; in the Middle East, an American airlift this week ferried reinforcements to the Persian Gulf over Sinai; the Iranian army is in the middle of a major war game “under war conditions” opposite the Strait of Hormuz; and Israel is putting the finishing touches to its new Depth Command set up for operations behind enemy lines.

Full article: Successful US-Israel radar test launches US missile shield’s operational phase (DEBKAfile)