PENTAGON REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CHINESE THREAT...
A new Defense Department report has raised fears over U.S. vulnerabilities to Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The 2013 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat Assessment, generated by the Department of Defense’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center, found that “China has the most active and diverse ballistic missile development program in the world” and that the number of Chinese ICBMs capable of reaching the U.S. “could expand to well over 100 within the next 15 years.” The study went on to say that China is looking at ways to defeat missile defenses, including multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), while also upgrading its conventional missile forces with missiles like the “carrier killer” Dong Feng 21-D. (Washington Times, July 11, 2013)
...AND WARNS OF IRAN'S EVOLVING BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABILITIES
The new DoD report also outlines concerns over the advancement of Iran’s space launch vehicles (SLV). Developments in SLVs have a direct correlation to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) technology, and according to the report - based upon its technological progress in the development of SLVs - Iran could be able to develop a missile capable of hitting the U.S. by as early as 2015. (Washington Free Beacon, July 12, 2013)
A NEW MISSILE LAUNCH SITE IN IRAN?
Under the auspices of its space program, Iran has constructed what experts believe could be a new launch pad for testing long-range ballistic missiles. Officially, the site - located outside the city of Shahrud in the country's northeast - is intended for satellite launches related to Iran's fledgling space efforts. But observers have noted a lack of storage capacity for the liquid fuel needed for satellite rockets. By contrast, solid fuel, which is often used for long-range ballistic missiles, needs no such storage – fueling the allegations surrounding site. Additionally, according to experts, aerial footage of the site show dimensions of the launch pad are much similar to those for missile testing, while its location would allow missiles fired from it to fly 800 miles and remain within Iranian territory, optimal for collecting vital flight data. (London Telegraph, August 7, 2013)
INDIA’S NUKES DIP BELOW THE SURFACE
According to Indian sources, New Delhi’s first nuclear powered submarine armed with ballistic missiles is about to set sail. The INS Arihant is equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles, providing the Indian military with dramatically increased mobility for its nuclear weapon systems. While still in its testing phase, the INS Arihant - once fully operational - will give India an unprecedented strategic advantage in the nuclear arms race that has raged between India and regional rival Pakistan for decades. (Global Security Newswire, July 29, 2013)
A CALL TO MODERNIZE MISSILE DEFENSE
The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee'd Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-3), has called upon the Obama administration to rethink its missile defense strategy, citing increasing threats from Iran and the Administration’s recent admission that it had underestimated the maturity of the strategic threat from North Korea. In addition to advocating a new ground-based interceptor (GBI) and building an East Coast missile defense site, Rep. Rogers claimed, “We must move out on aggressive development of next-generation missile defense capabilities, like space and directed energy.” Rogers noted that both Russia and China already appear to be doing the same thing, and have recently tested their own missile defenses. (Washington Free Beacon, August 13, 2013)
PATRIOT EXPANDS GLOBAL PRESENCE
Sales of the Patriot missile defense system continue to explode. No fewer than 12 nations around the world currently field the system, and several more are now interested in acquiring it. The increased demand is partly due to advancements in the system's technology, and in part because Congress has slashed funding for the Patriot's supposed successor, the Medium Extended Air and Missile Defense System (MEADS). A larger customer base also has driven down costs for the Patriot, making it more commercially attractive to potential buyers. (Reuters, August 4, 2013)
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