North Korea: Red Alert

The Biden administration says two North Korean missile launches in recent weeks were test firings of a powerful new long-range ICBM, and warned that a full-range test could soon follow.

The tests were of a missile reportedly larger than an ICBM North Korea launched in 2017 that was assessed to be capable of reaching the United States.

American missile defence and reconnaissance forces in the Pacific have been placed in a state of “enhanced readiness” in preparation for a full-range test, a senior administration official said.

The official outlined the US intelligence assessment of the recent launches on the condition of anonymity: “The purpose of these tests, which did not demonstrate ICBM range, was likely to evaluate this new system before conducting a test at full range in the future, potentially disguised as a space launch,” said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby in a statement.

North Korea has claimed the March 4 and February 26 launches were merely to test cameras to be installed on a future spy satellite. Multiple UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from firing ICBMs, and the US will announce a new round of sanctions meant to make it more difficult for the country to access technology needed for its weapons programmes, the official said.

The 2017 launch was part of a series of tests that prompted then-president Donald Trump to threaten North Korea’s leaders with “fire and fury” and brought the two countries to the brink of more serious conflict.

The new missile was first revealed to the public in 2020 during celebrations marking the 75th birthday of North Korea’s Communist Party in Pyongyang.

(Source: AP)

Cómo responder a las amenazas hipersónicas

DARPA, la agencia de investigación del Pentágono, está buscando una forma de combatir o interceptar las armas hipersónicas enemigas.

Con países como China y Rusia trabajando a marchas forzadas para desarrollar armas hipersónicas capaces de alcanzar velocidades en torno a Mach 25, es natural que la palabra de moda en el Pentágono sea "Hipervelocidad".

La idea de fondo estriba en desarrollar una tecnología capaz de interceptar y neutralizar amenazas hipersónicas en la atmósfera superior de la tierra. Esto es debido a que los vehículos de deslizamiento hipersónico (HGV, por sus siglas en inglés) no vuelan al espacio exterior como los ICBM, sino que vuelan a través de la delgada atmósfera superior, donde alcanzan velocidades extremadamente altas, mientras se mantienen lo suficientemente bajos como para dificultar la detección en el radar.

Hasta ahora se han venido sopesando algunas posibilidades como las armas de energía dirigida, o el sistema THAAD. Sin embargo, se han descartado por sendos motivos: En el caso de las armas de energía dirigida se han descartado por su ineficacia en condiciones de mal tiempo, y en el caso del THAAD se ha descartado porque los THAAD están diseñados para proteger un área pequeña, y cubrir un país entero con sistemas THAAD sería económicamente inviable.

Sin embargo, habría una tercera posibilidad que es la que está barajando DARPA, basada en la idea de redirigir los misiles ​​para que no alcancen el objetivo deseado. Esta solución, aparte de ser técnicamente compleja serviría tan sólo como elemento disuasorio, pero no resuelve en modo alguno la desventaja actual de Estados Unidos frente a China y Rusia en lo referente a misiles hipersónicos.

Orbital ATK, ready to provide the GBSD program

As designs for the next generation ICBM are being matured, Orbital ATK’s experience has resulted in smart commonality, commercial practices, and shared facilities and workforce.

The company has honed numerous capabilities that can reduce risk and shorten development timelines for GBSD. As an experienced flight system/launch vehicle provider, the company has integrated and launched flight systems at sites around the world, and advanced, common avionics have flown on more than 100 missions with 100 percent success.

Including strategic missile targets and interceptors, Orbital ATK has developed, on average, two new flight systems each year for the past 20 years. In addition, Orbital ATK has significant experience building flight-proven composite structures like shrouds, interstages and motor cases. The company has also developed nuclear hardness and survivability protection for its structures, which will help ensure the success of GBSD.

Orbital ATK has modern, automated facilities ready to support GBSD development and production. The company currently utilizes Additive Manufacturing, virtual reality and model-based systems engineering to design and build state-of-the-art rocket motors. In 2017, Orbital ATK’s solid rocket motors achieved 100-percent success on 16 flights and 11 static fires for a total of 64 motors fired.

Orbital ATK has played a key role on every Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program for more than five decades. Since the Minuteman I was first fielded in 1962, Orbital ATK, along with its legacy companies, has provided motor stages and refurbishment services for the program. Today, Minuteman III continues to play an integral role in our nation’s defense, but is preparing to be replaced by the next generation ICBM program: Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).

The Minuteman III weapon system is projected to be in service through 2030, and sustainment activities like those Orbital ATK is now performing on a Propulsion Subsystem Support Contract for the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate at Hill Air Force Base, will ensure operational readiness through that time. Once Minuteman III is retired, the Air Force’s GBSD program will take over: “The Orbital ATK team is dedicated to helping the Air Force with a smooth transition to the GBSD system,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division. “Minuteman III sustainment is a vital element of our nation’s defense and the Air Force is partnered with Orbital ATK to ensure that Minuteman remains safe, capable, reliable and responsive while beginning development of GBSD."

With a long history of ICBM experience, proven expertise in flight systems and components, and the ability to share facilities and experienced workforce across programs to keep costs down, Orbital ATK is ready to provide the GBSD program with outstanding solutions throughout its lifecycle.

La otra amenaza norcoreana: un EMP

El presidente de la Comisión EMP del Congreso estadounidense, William R. Graham, viene desde hace ya bastante tiempo advirtiendo sobre la necesidad de enfrentarse a la hipótesis de un ataque EMP sobre los Estados Unidos, lanzado por Corea del Norte. Hasta ahora no parece que le hayan hecho gran caso, mas parece que ese escenario apocalíptico ya empieza a ser lo suficientemente plausible

Aun cuando la inteligencia norteamericana ha reconocido ya la realidad de las posibilidades ofensivas de Corea del Norte sobre el territorio continental de Estados Unidos, la mayor amenaza sigue sin reconocerse como se debe: Corea del Norte tiene dos satélites en órbita, que podrían estar armados con artefactos nucleares aptos para lanzar un ataque mediante la generación de un pulso electromagnético (EMP) que podría afectar a Estados Unidos iniciando un proceso en cadena que cambiaría drásticamente la vida diaria de todos los habitantes del país, hasta el punto de acarrear la muerte de centenares de miles de personas por daños colaterales.

¿Cómo puede ser posible?

Henry Cooper, ex director de la Iniciativa de Defensa Estratégica de Estados Unidos, y destacado experto en defensa contra misiles y armas espaciales, ha escrito numerosos artículos advirtiendo sobre la posible amenaza de un EMP lanzado por Corea del Norte: "Los interceptores anti ICBM de Estados Unidos están diseñados para interceptar ICBMs que se aproximen sobre la región polar norte, pero no para ICBMs que se acerquen desde la región del Polo Sur, que es la dirección hacia la cual Corea del Norte viene lanzando sus satélites. Esto no es una idea nueva ya que los soviéticos fueron pioneros y probaron esa posibilidad hace décadas. Por lo tanto, Corea del Norte podría utilizar un satélite para llevar un dispositivo nuclear y detonarlo sobre Estados Unidos creando un EMP de alta altitud."

¿Qué indicios existen? ¿Hay motivos para alarmarse?

El ex científico de cohetes de la NASA James Oberg en su visita a la base de lanzamiento espacial Sohae de Corea del Norte, fue testigo de las elaboradas medidas adoptadas para ocultar las cargas útiles de lanzamiento espacial y concluyó que la amenaza EMP de los satélites de Corea del Norte no debería dejar de tomarse en serio: "Corea del Norte podría utilizar un satélite para colocar un artefacto nuclear en órbita y detonarlo Estados Unidos para iniciar un EMP. Aunque esta posibilidad parece improbable ya que supondría un nivel astronómico de irracionalidad por parte del régimen, creo sin embargo que a la vista de su programa espacial, ese nivel de locura resulta ya evidente."

¿Qué le pasaría a Estados Unidos en caso de un ataque mediante EMP?

"The common element that can produce such an impact from EMP is primarily electronics, so pervasive in all aspects of our society and military, coupled through critical infrastructures. Our vulnerability is increasing daily as our use of and dependence on electronics continues to grow. The impact of EMP is asymmetric in relation to potential protagonists who are not as dependent on modern electronics." (Cfr.: Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack)(http://www.empcommission.org/docs/empc_exec_rpt.pdf)

Imaginen cómo sería la vida diaria de los estadounidenses prescindiendo al 100% del ordenador, la tablet, el móvil, el teléfono fijo, la internet, la radio, la televisión..., y sin caldera, ni lavadora, ni microondas, ni frigorífico... en definitiva, prescindiendo al 100% de todo aquello que contenga componentes electrónicos en su interior. Eso es lo que les pasaría dentro de su casa. Fuera de ella: Ni coches..., ni gasolineras..., ni semáforos..., ni alarmas... ni hospitales... ni bomberos... ni policía... un ataque mediante EMP sobre Estados Unidos no requeriría contar con sistemas de guiado muy precisos pues el área de alcance es muy grande. Tampoco necesitaría ningún vehículo de reentrada porque el artefacto detona a gran altitud, por encima de la atmósfera. En definitiva: La posibilidad de un "Jaque Mate" a Estados Unidos por parte de Corea del Norte mediante un EMP existe, y por ello debe ser tenida en cuenta, quizá ahora más que nunca.

¿Qué hacer con Corea del Norte?

De acuerdo con lo publicado en fechas recientes, Corea del Norte se acerca cada vez más a su objetivo de obtener un misil balístico intercontinental (ICBM, por sus siglas en inglés), cuyo alcance pudiera posibilitar un ataque nuclear en el territorio continental de Estados Unidos.

El 9 de junio, Corea del Norte llevó a cabo su décima prueba con misiles en este 2017. Pero… ¿qué está detrás de la obsesión del país asiático con estos proyectiles? "En primer lugar, es una manera de reforzar su capacidad y lograr una disuasión estratégica contra Estados Unidos. Ser capaz de construir un ICBM, por ejemplo, va a cambiar el equilibrio estratégico, no solo a nivel regional, sino en relación a EEUU", detalla la experta Cristina Varriale, analista de políticas nucleares.

Pese a las constantes sanciones por parte de la comunidad internacional, en particular de las Naciones Unidas a lo largo de varias décadas, Corea del Norte insiste en lanzar y poner a prueba sus misiles. Más aún: pese a que muchas naciones rehúsan hacer negocios con ellos, el país ha logrado exportar materias primas como el mineral de hierro, níquel y minerales de tierras raras a China.

¿Qué opción nos queda entonces para acabar con la obsesión de Kim Jong-un por atacar a Estados Unidos? Muy probablemente, sólo quede la opción de un ataque preventivo que, en mi opinión, se está ganando a pulso. Lo siento por su pueblo, pero se está rifando una bofetada y Corea del Norte tiene todas las papeletas.

North Korean ICBMs: ¿From The Parade To The Test?

Among the new weapon systems put on display by North Korea two months ago were the Hwasong-12 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) the Pukguksong-2 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM), a new precision Scud variant, and an improved coastal defense cruise missile, all of which have appeared on the testing grounds in recent weeks.

However, North Korea has yet to test his liquid-fueled KN-08 and KN-14 ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles): North Korea has been exclusively testing missiles that appeared in a military parade earlier this year, raising serious questions about what threat from North Korea is getting ready next.

North Korea has said as much “The series of recent strategic weapons tests show that we are not too far away from test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile,” the Rodong Sinmun, the official paper of the ruling party, said Saturday. In addition to its long-range missile aspirations, the North is also interested in developing a diverse arsenal of missiles for a complex variety of combat contingencies.

So, what is North Korea’s next move? “I suppose one way to think about it would be to look at the April 15 parade again,” Joshua Pollack, a leading arms expert, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. Even when the North has yet not tested the suspected solid-fueled, canister-launched ICBM seen during the parade, the recent string of weapons testing suggests that a test of some type of ICBM is coming soon.

North Korean missile tests

North Korea has launched five missile tests so far in 2017. The latest launch in mid-April, though assessed as a failure, came hours after North Korea rolled out intercontinental ballistic missiles and other military hardware at a big parade to celebrate the birthday of the country's late founder, Kim Il Sung, a grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. The festivities took place amid concerns that North Korea is possibly preparing for its sixth nuclear test or a significant rocket launch, such as its first test flight of an ICBM. Let us see -briefly- some details about each of the five tests that have already occurred this year:

Feb. 12

In February, North Korea successfully tested a land-based KN-15 missile, a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which traveled 310 miles into the Sea of Japan. Gen. John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command labeled the launch as “a major advancement” by North Korea because it was "a new solid medium range ballistic missile off a new transporter erector launcher."

March 6

In early March, North Korea launched five medium-range Scud-type missiles. Shortly after this test occurred, the U.S. delivered the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to South Korea, a process which the U.S. started working on with its ally after the flurry of North Korean missile tests in 2016. THAAD is a missile defense shield designed to intercept short and medium range missiles.

March 21

Later in the month, North Korea tested a mobile-launched missile which exploded "within seconds of launch," according to U.S. Pacific Command. U.S. officials did not identify what type of missile was tested since it exploded so soon after launch.

April 4

On April 4, a KN-17 missile launch came just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, during which the pair discussed how to curb North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. U.S. officials said the missile spun out of control and landed in the Sea of Japan after traveling 34 miles.

April 16

Less than two weeks later, North Korea launched another KN-17 that exploded shortly after launch.

(Read more)

THAAD seen as capable of intercepting N.K. mid-range missile

The advanced U.S. missile defense system THAAD is believed to be capable of intercepting North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missiles if it is deployed in South Korea, Seoul's defense chief said Friday.

North Korea claimed Thursday that it has succeeded in test-firing its mid-range missile, boasting of its capacity to hit U.S. forces in the Pacific region. "The deployment of THAAD will help South Korea's move to counter the North's missile threats," Defense Minister Han Min-koo told reporters.

The minister said that more information is needed to check THAAD's capability to intercept the North's mid-range missiles, but generally, the system is believed to be up to the task. Seoul and Washington have been discussing the potential deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea, where about 28,500 American troops are stationed.

The allies' move is aimed at countering the North's evolving missile threats amid concerns about the technical progress of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. On Wednesday, the North fired off what is believed to be two Musudan mid-range missiles, marking its fifth and sixth launches since April. The Musudan missile, with an estimated range of some 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers, could theoretically reach any target in Japan and fly as far as the U.S. territory of Guam.

The North's first five attempts to test-fire the missile failed, but the sixth one flew about 400 kilometers after being launched at a higher angle Wednesday. The North's latest move raises concerns about advances made in the country's nuclear and missile capabilities. Pyongyang is seeking to develop a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting targets on the U.S. mainland. South Korea's military said that it is too early to conclude the North's test was a total success, but experts said that if the North did not launch the missile at a higher angle, it could have traversed on a normal trajectory.

Han said that North Korea could test-fire an ICBM or a submarine-launched missile in a bid to show off its military prowess. "We do not rule out the possibility of an additional nuclear test by North Korea," he said. South Korea is speeding up the development of the indigenous Korea Air and Missile Defense system. A pre-emptive missile destruction system, the so-called Kill Chain, is also under development to detect and strike North Korea's missile and nuclear facilities. The North conducted its fourth nuke test in January and launched a long-range rocket in the following month, drawing international condemnation. The country is banned from using ballistic missile technology under relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions.

¿Why Japan is wary of North Korea's Musudan missiles?

North Korea has recently claimed a series of breakthroughs in its push to build a long-range nuclear missile that can strike the American mainland. If the North's claims about the sixth Musudan launch are true, it would pose a threat to the USA military base in Guam, where troops that would be sent to the Korean Peninsula if conflict broke out are based, and also possibly a nuclear threat. It explains in part North Korea's tenacious testing of the Musudan missile. (Read more)

Emerging Technologies, Emerging Surprises...

Today, the world may face some surprises due a number of emerging technological advances that could significantly lower the barriers to the development of nuclear arms.

In particular, additive manufacturing of machine parts, such as those needed for uranium-enrichment centrifuges and missile engines—and the use of lasers to enrich uranium may create new pathways to more-rapid development of nuclear weapons and the systems necessary for their delivery.

It may only be a few years, if that, before additive manufacturing is widely adopted. Although laser enrichment has not been commercialized, it may be adapted before long for enriching uranium on the smaller scale needed for a nuclear weapons program.

(Read more)

China: Rail-Mobile ICBM DF-41 Test

China’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday 31th that its military recently conducted a test of a new rail-mobile ICBM capable of hitting any part of the United States with up to 10 nuclear warheads.

With a believed top speed of 30.000 Km/H and a range of up to 12.000 Km, the DF-41 competes directly with the US LGM-30 Minuteman which has a reported range of 13.000 km and a top speed of 24.000 Km/H.

Pentagon: Additive Manufacturing for ICBM Programs

The Pentagon has released a solicitation to identify and develop cost effective Additive Manufacturing materials, processes, and techniques sufficient to prototype and produce future components supporting current and future ICBM programs.

Specific areas to address for maximum future benefit include reducing the cost to manufacture structural parts, reducing the mass or fabrication cost of complex components, or creating an in-house capability for depots and maintenance personnel to manufacture spares on-demand.

Also of interest are concepts for adding extra functionality to existing parts such as printed circuit boards with integrated shielding with the end goal of creating production parts which are inherently hardened without a requirement for additional external shielding to reduce parts count, material, and mass.

Regardless of the material, approach, or component proposed for improvement, the final product must meet or exceed all of the technical specifications of the current component or system i.e. structural loads, operating/survival temperature, radiation shielding, EMI/EMC, vacuum compatibility, launch/flight loads, storage requirements, etc.

More info: https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/870297

El acuerdo con Iran, violado desde el principio

Como ustedes ya saben, tras 20 meses de negociaciones Iran ha accedido el pasado mes de Julio a firmar un acuerdo con el grupo P5+1, para limitar sus actividades nucleares a cambio del levantamiento de las sanciones económicas.

Sin embargo, numerosos analistas consideran insuficientes las garantías que ofrece el acuerdo, al objeto de evitar que Iran se convierta en una nueva potencia nuclear. Más concretamente, se temen que el acuerdo suponga "de facto" un balón de oxígeno para aquellos que están comprometidos a borrar a Israel de la faz de la tierra.

¿Es posible que haya motivos fundados para desconfiar de Iran... tan pronto? Vamos a exponer a continuación algunas realidades inquietantes, que conviene conocer, y luego juzguen ustedes.

El pasado Miércoles 29 de Julio, El Secretario de Estado norteamericano John Kerry afirmó que el General de División del Ejército Irani Quassem Soleimani, dirigente del Al-Quds Force, a quien se atribuye haber colaborado en el asesinato de más de 500 soldados norteamericanos en Irak a manos de las milicias chiies y de ayudar a defender al Presidente Sirio Bashar al Assad, nunca podría viajar fuera de Iran,  en virtud de los términos del acuerdo. Sin embargo, el acuerdo ya había sido violado pues Soleimani estaba ya en Irak, entrenando a las milicias chiies para la lucha contra el Estado Islámico.

Posteriormente, el Viernes 7 de Agosto los medios de comunicación iraníes confirmaron que Soleimani estaba en Rusia, reuniéndose con el Presidente Ruso Vladimir Putin. Nueva violación del acuerdo. ¿Qué estaba tratando con Putin? Todo apunta a la venta de misiles Scud, a la operación de los S-300 que se está ultimando esta misma semana en Moscú, y a un hipotético acuerdo de colaboración para continuar desarrollando un programa militar basado en armas de destrucción masiva.

En cualquier caso, mal empezamos: Con un Iran que no respeta las reglas del juego y con unos Estados Unidos que no las hacen respetar, sólo cabe suponer que los iranies continuen desarrollando su programa nuclear. Tan sólo queda esperar que el Congreso rechace el acuerdo, y que Obama no vete el rechazo del Congreso.

¿Qué postura asumirá Israel? La única que cabe esperar: Defenderse a toda costa de quienes están empeñados en destruirle a toda costa.

Iran tensa la cuerda

Esta semana han aparecido nuevas imágenes tomadas por el satélite Eros-B, sobre las instalaciones del Centro de Lanzamiento Espacial "Imam Khomeini"

Las imágenes carecerían de importancia si no fuese porque, segun algunos expertos, parece que se aprecia lo que podría ser un misil de largo alcance, capaz de alcanzar objetivos más allá de Europa.

David del Fresno Consultores

Asesoría en Impresión 3D

http://daviddft.wix.com/david-del-fresno

Rusia: Exito en las pruebas del Yars

Hace unas horas, el Ministerio de defensa ruso ha anunciado que el ejército ha disparado hoy con éxito el misil balístico intercontinental RS-24 Yars: "El ICBM fue lanzado a las 11:02 hora de Moscú (0802 GMT) y alcanzó su objetivo en el campo de tiro de Kura, ubicado en la península de Kamchatka"

¿Qué es el RS-24 Yars?

Básicamente, este nuevo ICBM de tipo MITRV es una versión modernizada del RS-12M2 Topol-M, y está concebido para reemplazar poco a poco las unidades RS-12M Topol y RS-18 Stiletto, en respuesta al escudo antimisiles desplegado por Estados Unidos en Norteamérica y Europa. Rusia ha criticado en múltiples ocasiones este escudo, aduciendo entre otros motivos que parte de sus bases están situadas en países europeos de la antigua órbita soviética.

Mide 23 metros, consta de tres etapas, usa combustible sólido y lleva ojivas de reentrada múltiple. Se le considera el más avanzado misil estratégico ruso, por dos motivos:

• Es capaz de impactar contra sus objetivos a distancias de hasta 11.000 kilómetros, por lo que cuenta con capacidad suficiente para atacar territorio estadounidense.

• Está dotado de varios elementos y subsistemas que le permiten evitar la defensa antimisiles de cualquier adversario

¿Qué significa MITRV?
MITRV es el acrónimo de Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle, y quiere decir que se trata de un misil armado con ojivas múltiples de guiado autónomo. Las ojivas múltiples son una de las técnicas empleadas para reducir la eficacia de los antimisiles, al multiplicar el número de atacantes simultáneos. Este misil puede portar entre 3 y 10 ojivas nucleares de 150 a 300 kilotones cada una.


¿Donde está desplegado este misil?

• Actualmente ya se encuentran desplegadas 15 unidades en las bases militares siberianas de Novosibirsk y Tomsk, y un número indeterminado de unidades en la base de Téikovo, al noreste de Moscú.

• Para 2015 se prevé desplegar estos misiles en dos bases más, y se prevé realizar 16 lanzamientos de prueba. El nuevo sistema se convierte así en la principal fuerza de choque de las tropas misileras de Rusia.

¿Cómo queda entonces la situación?

• Rusia ha incrementado el número de ensayos de sus armas nucleares en los últimos meses, en medio de la tensión por la crisis en Ucrania que ha derivado en fuertes sanciones económicas contra Moscú.

• Los misiles intercontinentales, los submarinos nucleares y la aviación estratégica conforman la tríada nuclear rusa en su programa de rearme, que contempla el gasto de unos 700.000 millones de dólares en armamento hasta 2020.

ICBM Modernization: Challenges and Opportunities

A 2014 RAND Corp. study found that sustaining the current Minuteman III force with gradual upgrades is a relatively inexpensive way to retain current ICBM (Inter Continental Ballistic Missile) capabilities. The study also found that a new ICBM system would likely cost two to three times as much as incremental modernization and sustainment of the current ICBM system.

One constraint on the lifespan of the current system is the declining quantity of missile bodies due to required annual test launches. The Air Force conducts three tests per year, and the ICBM system program office has recommended increasing that to four times annually. It means a force of 420 operational ICBMs is not sustainable beyond 2030 without new units and the entire missile asset will be depleted by 2135, RAND said.

Global Strike outlines latest improvements for missileers, security forces

Air Force Global Strike Command's program to improve the morale of its airmen has netted key recommendations and budgeted millions of dollars in improvements to missile wings.

More than $200 million in funding has been budgeted for the force improvement program in fiscal 2014 and 2015, with a total of $350 million in additional funding planned in the next five years.

The changes come from the outreach to airmen and include:

• $10.1 million to purchase new optics and $330,000 for collapsible rifle stocks and shorter barrels for security forces airmen, who asked for upgrades to their weapons.

• $1 million to improve the training course at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. Airmen asked for improved training, which now includes more "trigger time" and a convoy course focused on training to protect missiles in transit.

• $300,000 in funding for new tools and equipment for maintainers.

• An unspecified amount for six new personnel authorizations per ICBM wing to stand up launch control center survivable systems team sections.

The force improvement program began earlier this year with Air Force and Defense Department officials seeking recommendations from Global Strike Command airmen at all levels following multiple high-level incidents of cheating and commander firings.

Spears and Shields: A brief look

America’s National Intelligence Council said in 1999 that China and Russia had devised numerous countermeasures to protect offensive missiles and were probably willing to sell the technology.

A statement in May by the office of the assistant secretary of defence for research and engineering noted that the proliferation of such advanced countermeasures was rendering America’s missile defences “no longer practical or cost-effective”.

Among nuclear powers, neither North Korea nor Pakistan is presently capable of building a ballistic-missile triggering system that is able to detonate a nuclear payload if an interceptor was drawing near. But with time and enough effort, this could change: At least one type of nuclear device detonated by North Korea “is not inconsistent” with efforts to build a bomb designed for an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack. Effects of a EMP depend on factors including the altitude of the detonation, energy yield, gamma ray output, interactions with the Earth's magnetic field and electromagnetic shielding of targets, but in any case rapidly changing electric fields and magnetic fields may couple with electrical/electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges. The threat grows as potential attackers continue to acquire “more complex, survivable, reliable and accurate” ICBMs equipped with countermeasures

Land- and Sea-Based Spears: ICBMs

The trajectory of an ICBM runs in three consecutive phases: Atmosphere-Space-Atmosphere. The first phase is the "easyest" one in order to incercept the ICBM, so it is neccesary to place interceptors close enough to reach the missile before it leaves the atmosphere... But it is not easy, indeed. Ronald Reagan hoped to put interception satellites into low orbit, but the “Star Wars” scheme, as it was known, presented three main handicaps:

1. It would have required a lot satellites costing billions of dollars.
2. Satellites could be shot up with missiles
3. Satellites could be blinded with lasers

Space-Based Spears: Satellites

• In December 2012 North Korea launched a satellite on a southerly track. The launch reveals a vulnerability in missile defences which could be exploited for an EMP attack.
• A nuclear device fitted into a subsequent southerly launched satellite would circumvent America’s defences against long-range weapons because these are positioned to hit warheads flying from over the North Pole, not those coming from the south.
• A nuke concealed in a satellite in an orbit used by many civilian satellites could be detonated on a flyover above America. There is no point in having a missile-defence system that cannot prevent such an attack.

Air-Based Shields: Lasers and interceptors

• MDA believes that aircraft-mounted anti-missile Solid-state lasers may “play a crucial role” in defeating ICBMs during the boost phase. Experiments have begun with General Atomics’ Reaper and Boeing’s Phantom Eye drones.
• Dale Tietz, a former senior Star Wars official, says that North Korean missiles could be prevented from reaching space by just three interceptor-armed Global Hawk UAVs.

Sea-Based Shields: Aegis

• 30 of America’s warships carry Aegis anti-missile systems, but these were designed to strike shorter-range missiles.
• With recent upgrades, Aegis is thought to be capable of intercepting warheads in space, in limited circumstances.
• With additional radar near America’s east coast, Aegis destroyers in the Atlantic could theoretically intercept ICBMs coming from Europe and Asia.

Ground-Based Shields: GMD

• The GMD system consists of an “exoatmospheric kill vehicle” with steering rockets and its own X-Band Radar system.
• There are 30 GMD interceptors at Vandenberg AFB and Fort Greely in Alaska.
• The MDA has begun work at Fort Greely to prepare for a field of silos that will contain an extra 14 interceptors by 2017.

Russia Fires Nuclear Missile

Russia successfully tested its latest Bulava intercontinental nuclear missile Wednesday amid rising tensions with NATO over the conflict in Ukraine.

The nearly 37-ton missile was launched from Russia’s new submarine, the Vladimir Monomakh, as part of its sea trials. Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Borisov said a total of five test launches are planned.

The Borei-class Vladimir Monomakh can carry up to 16 Bulava missiles, which can each carry up to 10 nuclear warheads. The Bulava missiles have a range of 5,000 miles and can reportedly cause a blast 100 times larger than the atomic bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.