Required Reading: Naval War College Review Articles on China’s DF-21/ASBM

A few of us  (here and over at Galrahn‘s site) have been banging the drum for the last few years re. the potential threat posed by China’s ASBM (Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile) which appears to be a variant of the DF-21 (itself, an apparent derivative of the Pershing II MRBM).  There has been limited releasable (e.g.,…

Concerning Missile Defense, Deterrence and North Korea

Writing in today’s Japan Times Online, columnist Michael Richardson raises several, hoary arguments as to the possible effectiveness of missile defense vs. massive retaliation as a form of deterrence vis-à-vis the DPRK’s l’enfant terrible and the latest brewing crisis on the Korean peninsula.  We say “hoary” because true to the definition, the arguments are the…

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E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Milestones

Couple of major milestones for the Advanced Hawkeye program announced today: Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP): An Acquisition Decision Memorandum, signed June 11 by the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, gave the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program approval to enter low-rate initial production. Having demonstrated that it has met all acquisition…

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DPRK and Long Range Missiles: Here We Go Again

Looks like the missiles of spring are coming back for return engagement this summer: SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea may this month test a missile designed to fly as far as U.S. territory and may also be gearing up for skirmishes with the South around their disputed sea border, South Korean media reported on Monday….

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BMD From the Sea – It’s Not Just for SWO’s

It is time for Naval Aviation to become more than interested bystanders and step up to the plate for the ballistic missile defense mission. For those who have been otherwise engaged or looking elsewhere, the cover and main article in the May 2009 issue of Proceedings is your wake-up call. Now, besides the ever-present threat…

Say Hello to Ashura

(aka Sejil-2) Iran’s new MRBM and the latest complication in the brewing nuclear arms race in the Middle East: WASHINGTON (AP) – The missile test-fired by Iran is the longest-range solid-propellant missile it has launched yet, a U.S. government official said Wednesday, raising concerns about whether the sophistication of Tehran’s missile program is increasing. The U.S….

Foreign Ballistic Missiles – Capabilities and Threat Guide

We’ve talked about it here before, the threat that is.  Now comes an open  source, current publication you can use for citations and the like: Ballistic missile capabilities continue to increase with the proliferation of missile technology. Over 20 countries have ballistic missile systems and it is likely that missiles will be a threat in…