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American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, DC
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ABL’S SHIFTING PARAMETERS Though still in its early stages of development, the Air Force’s Airborne Laser (ABL) Program is being considered for expanded use against intercontinental ballistic missile threats, according to the September issue of Air Force magazine. The military journal reports that the system -- originally designed for short- and medium-range missile interception -- is now being eyed by the Pentagon as a component of both theater and national missile defense. A decision on the scope of ABL has yet to be finalized, but Air Force officials tell the magazine that they are confident the program can be adapted for use in both capacities. Still, a “comprehensive” ABL defense against ICBMs would entail a dramatic expansion of the project -- from the seven platforms currently envisioned by the Pentagon to as many as 125 aircraft. But even as the Department of Defense assesses an expanded role for the program, ABL’s testing schedule appears to have begun to slip. The September 1st issue of Aviation Week and Space Technology reports that the project, originally slated to conduct a close-range intercept next year, will now not be evaluated for functionality until 2005. MISSILE DEFENSE TOPS INDO-ISRAELI AGENDA This week’s historic visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to India is expected to usher in a substantial expansion of the strategic relationship between the two countries in a variety of arenas, and missile defense is no exception. On the agenda for Sharon’s five-day tour are discussions about Jerusalem’s proposed sale of the U.S.-Israeli Arrow theater missile defense system to New Delhi. Analysts tell the Press Trust of India (August 29) that if finalized during Sharon’s visit, sale of the jointly developed system -- which requires American approval for resale -- would be an important “test case” for the expansion of U.S.-Indian strategic ties. Yet significant impediments to the deal remain; Israel’s Ha’aretz (September 7) reports that U.S. officials, wary of triggering an arms race between India and rival Pakistan, have advised Israel to shelve discussions regarding the Arrow during the Prime Minister’s visit. AN ASIAN CONDUIT FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STATES China and North Korea have begun a cooperative effort to assist Iran’s ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, Middle East Newsline (September 9) reports. U.S. officials tell the news agency that Pyongyang and Beijing have coordinated their production and delivery of missile and WMD technologies to Tehran, as well as to other Middle Eastern client states. In many instances, China has produced these components and exported them through North Korea in order to avoid sanctions. In other cases, the officials say, the shipments are coordinated and produced in Pyongyang but delivered by way of China and Pakistan. NEW NORTH KOREAN MISSILES EXPAND DPRK REACH Even as diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis over its nuclear program continue, Pyongyang’s missile advances are increasingly putting the United States and its Asian allies at risk. The September 9th Washington Times reports that the DPRK is expected to shortly showcase two new additions to its ballistic missile arsenal. The first, a medium-range, road-mobile missile with an estimated range of up to 3,400 miles, will make North Korea capable of targeting the entirety of Japan, as well as the U.S. territory of Guam. The second, a longer-range variant of Pyongyang’s “Taepo Dong” intercontinental ballistic missile, will put Hawaii, Alaska, California and “most of the West Coast” within North Korean range, according to an anonymous U.S. official who spoke with the Times. TAIWAN SEEKS AMERICAN DEFENSES Worries over China’s military modernization have led Taiwan to seek additional missile defense assistance from the United States. The August 31st Straits Times reports that the island’s Defense Ministry has announced plans to purchase additional U.S. PAC-3 theater missile defense batteries in fiscal year 2005 as a supplement to existing anti-missile defenses. According to Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Tang Yao-ming, the units are scheduled to be delivered next August as part of an overall military expansion intended to counterbalance PRC efforts. The announcement comes following American calls for greater Taiwanese military spending. “The most immediate area where Taiwan can make a difference will be to address the growing cross-strait military imbalance” between itself and China, according to Douglas Pall, director of the Taipei office of the quasi-official American Institute in Taiwan. “This year we expect at least 75 new missiles to be deployed opposite Taiwan,” Pall told a recent seminar in Taipei in comments relayed by the Australian newspaper (August 28). “The growing threat from these missiles clearly heightens tensions in the strait and in the region by improving the PRC’s capacity to launch a strike against Taiwan with little or no warning time.” |
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