The Missiles of Winter (IV) – The Pillars of BMD

Previous Installments:     Part I Part II Part III Ballistic missile defense is characterized by three pillars; offensive operations, passive defense and active defense all supported by command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I).   Individually, each has its own advantages, challenges and measured success in application.   However, it is not until they…

The Missiles of Winter (III) – Proliferation Controls

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….

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The Missiles of Winter – Part II: Rampant Proliferation

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…

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The Missiles of Winter (I): International Conventions

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…

Bulava Fails Latest Test – Lessons for US?

“After its firing from the submarine Dmitry Donskoy, the Bulava missile self-liquidated and exploded into the air” – Russian MoD spokesman to Interfax 23 Dec 08 And thus was written the postscript on the latest test of the star-crossed Bulava SLBM.  Five failures in eight attempts would seem to call into question the fast-track to…

Красная звезда вторник: Red Star Tuesday – Stability 2008

“Stability 2008” the exercise that (if you believe Russian sources) signals Russia’s return to preeminence as a global military power, continues.  Over the past weekend we witnessed a number of Russian ICBM and SLBM tests in conjunction with “Stability 2008.”  Some of the video reporting for these launches is provided below (h/t Russian Navy Blog):…