Previous in series: The Missiles of Winter (I): International Conventions The Missiles of Winter – Part II: Rampant Proliferation Pyrolytic or fibrous reinforced graphites. The raw material is a very fine dark grey to black powder – processed, the density ranges from 1.72 to 2.2 g/cc, with the latter being the case for pyrolytic graphite….
Previous: The Missiles of Winter (I): International Conventions March 1985. In the high desert, west of Tehran, an element of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Air Force (IRGC AF) is going about their business in the early morning darkness. The object of their attention is a SCUD-B SRBM fixed to a MAZ-543P transporter-erector launcher, both…
If news reports coming from South Korea and echoed through the West are to be believed, North Korea is moving towards another attempt at launching a Taepo Dong – 2 IR/ICBM, ostensibly as a space launch vehicle (SLV). This would be the third such attempt, with previous attempts in July 2006 and Sept 1998 ending…
Comes word over night of an apparently successful attempt by Iran to place a satellite in orbitusing the Safir-2 space launch vehicle (SLV). The Safir (“Ambassador”) was ingeniously developed as part of Iran’s growing rocket and missile program and has direct links to its attempts to develop extended range missiles in the IRBM and ultimately,…
Deterrence. Preventing war is preferable to fighting wars. Deterring aggression must be viewed in global, regional, and transnational terms via conventional, unconventional, and nuclear means. Effective Theater Security Cooperation activities are a form of extended deterrence, creating security and removing conditions for conflict. Maritime ballistic missile defense will enhance deterrence by providing an umbrella of…
Memo to the Strategic Communications folks – might want to work on that “Uniform Message” thing… (version released to AGENCE France-Presse ) (version released to Associated Press – note the dud in the foreground)
SM-2 Intercept of SRBM 5 Jun 08 Aegis, Sm-2 Interceptors Kill Target Missile In Terminal-Phase Success (DEFENSE DAILY 06 JUN 08) … Dave Ahearn The Aegis weapon control system guided two Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IV interceptors that obliterated a target missile in its terminal phase of flight, as the foreign-built unitary Scud-like target missile…
(ed. Been a while since we’ve run this recurring item – some interesting items of note from this week for your perusal. – SJS)  India: Agni-III IRBM Test Successful  India’s third test of the indigenously developed Agni-III IRBM on 7 May was evidently a complete success. Launched from Wheeler Island on the east…
Sensors – Intro A layered system such as the BMDS requires a multitude of sensors with differeing characteristics. Why you ask? For several reasons. One is the nature of the threat – be it short, medium or intercontinental in range, there will be one or more differing sets of sensors that will come into play. …
‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, ‘To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages — and kings — And why the sea is boiling hot — And whether pigs have wings.’ — The Walrus And The Carpenter by Lewis Carroll. Well, the time has come…
