U.S., Japan to reinforce deployment of guided missile destroyers

Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shimbun reported today ballistic missile defense, built around the Aegis Combat System, is being "doubled" with the deployment of eight Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The reinforcements of U.S. warships follow the May 14 launch of a new North Korean mid range ballistic missile. KCNA had stated at the time the missile could carry a heavy nuclear warhead. The two countries are expected to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral security measures in an upcoming "2+2" ministerial meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, on July 14.

Tokyo recently decided to deploy a land-based component of a missile interceptor system, the Aegis Ashore, to enhance the country's ability to respond to the launch of North Korean ballistic missiles.

China modernizará su flota de guerra

De acuerdo con una información publicada el pasado 31 de Diciembre por el diario chino Quanzhou Evening News, la marina del PLA está llevando a cabo un ambicioso programa de modernización. El programa persigue dotar a la marina de un número suficiente de portaaviones, destructores y submarinos para mantener el equilibrio de fuerzas en aguas del Pacífico.

Destructores

• China está desarrollando en la actualidad un programa encaminado a la construcción de un destructor Tipo 052C y siete destructores Tipo 052D. Ambos pertenecen al Tipo 052, también conocido como el "Aegis chino".

• Actualmente cuenta con cinco destructores Tipo 052C y cinco destructores Tipo 052D, que escoltan al portaaviones Liaoning. Según los expertos, el Tipo 052C pretende competir con el destructor clase Arleigh Burke de la US Navy, si bien el clase Arleigh Burke es bastante más grande, está mejor armado y puede almacenar más misiles que el Tipo 052C.

• Está en desarrollo el Tipo 055, que se pretende sea similar al clase Arleigh Burke

Portaaviones

• China planea establecer sus propios grupos de batalla de portaaviones
• Actualmente cuenta con sólo un portaaviones (el Liaoning) 

Submarinos

China está desarrollando en la actualidad un programa encaminado a la construcción de cuatro submarinos Tipo 094s y dos submarinos Tipo 096 durante los próximos cinco años, dotados ambos de misiles balísticos capaces de alcanzar la costa oeste de Estados Unidos.

YJ-12: A big headache for US Navy

Robert Haddick, an American military analyst, unveiled recently why the PLA YJ-12 missile may be "the most dangerous threat to the US Navy". Among other reasons, Haddick mentions the maximum range as one of the key points to bear in mind, because the YJ-12 has an operational maximum range around 400 kilometers. This range represents really a threat, due to the SM-6 has a range of 240 kilometers, and the Harpoon has 315 kilometers, depending on the launching platform. 

Read more at: http://warontherocks.com/2014/07/chinas-most-dangerous-missile-so-far/

US to send first element of anti-missile system in Europe to Romania

The first components of a US-made anti-missile system are being assembled in New Jersey ahead of their shipping to Romania in a few weeks.

In about a year, all the pieces will be reassembled to become the first operational shore-based element of the European Phased Adaptive Approach anti-missile system. According to DefenseNews, the system is the first land-based version of the Aegis combat system, a sophisticated collection of phased-array radars, fire control directors, computers and missiles.

The deployment of the Aegis Ashore system in Romania to provide ballistic missile coverage for southern Europe represents the second phase of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, and will also use enhanced SM-3 Block IB interceptor missiles.

Source: http://www.indiandefence.com/forums/u-s-europe/43063-americans-send-first-element-anti-missile-system-europe-romania.html#ixzz2tkRu3kLl

KBR to Build European Missile Facility

KBR Inc. recently won a contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District, to support the first land-based ballistic missile defense system of the continent at the Deveselu Air Base of Romania. Spanning a 269-acre plot, the Deveselu Air Base was jointly selected by the United States and Romania for the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System. The Aegis Defense system will be the first land-based alternative of the Navy’s shipboard Aegis Air and Ballistic Missile Defense System. (Read more)