BAE Systems diseñará buscadores IR de próxima generación

BAE Systems ha recibido un contrato de Lockheed Martin para diseñar y fabricar buscadores infrarrojos de próxima generación para el sistema de armas Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

El trabajo de diseño del sensor mejorará la capacidad del sistema de defensa antimisiles para neutralizar más amenazas y mejorar su capacidad de fabricación, dijo un comunicado de la compañía.

"El buscador THAAD es un producto clave en nuestra cartera de municiones de precisión que es reconocido por sus capacidades de intercepción comprobadas. Demuestra nuestra capacidad para ofrecer sistemas avanzados de orientación y orientación para municiones críticas de precisión” dijo Barry Yeadon, director del programa THAAD en BAE Systems. "Este contrato es un testimonio de nuestro éxito continuo con el programa y nos permite avanzar en nuestro diseño probado y llevar el programa al futuro en apoyo de la misión de la Agencia de Defensa de Misiles".

THAAD es un sistema defensivo diseñado para derribar misiles balísticos de corto, mediano e intermedio alcance (SRBM, MRBM e IRBM) en su fase terminal (descenso o reentrada). Su capacidad de intercepción a gran altitud mitiga los efectos de las armas enemigas antes de que lleguen al suelo, y su impacto cinético no explosivo minimiza el riesgo de detonación. El buscador de BAE Systems proporciona imágenes infrarrojas que guían a los interceptores a sus objetivos previstos, destruyendo las ojivas enemigas dentro o fuera de la atmósfera terrestre.

Los futuros buscadores del THAAD se ensamblarán, integrarán y probarán en las instalaciones de BAE Systems ubicadas en Nashua, New Hampshire y Endicott, Nueva York. Parte del trabajo de diseño para la tecnología de búsqueda de próxima generación se llevará a cabo en Huntsville, Alabama, donde la compañía está construyendo una instalación de vanguardia.

¿Has China really backed down over South Korea missile shield row?

Back in 2016 – after the United States and South Korea decided that US Forces Korea would deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence shield system in South Korea – relations between Beijing and Seoul fell off a cliff.

China unofficially sanctioned South Korean firms, including Lotte, the conglomerate that would eventually cede land to the South Korean government in the country’s south to allow for a deployment of the missile system. For Beijing, the US deployment of THAAD was never about the missile interceptors: Rather, Beijing has long expressed open concern – even through its foreign minister – about the powerful X-band AN/TPY-2 radar that accompanies the THAAD system.

(Read more...)

South Korea: Duty-free shops still reeling from THAAD impact

In mid-March, China banned the sale of group tours to Seoul in retaliation against the installation of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in southeastern South Korea, which Beijing sees as a security threat. The move has dealt a harsh blow to local duty-free shops, as Chinese tourists were their main customers.

Industry leader Lotte Duty Free saw its sales fall 6.6 percent on-year to 2.6 trillion won ($2.3 billion) during the January-June period, with its operating income nose-diving 97 percent to 7.4 billion won. The company posted an operating income of 37.2 billion won in the first quarter, but it plummeted to an operating loss of 29.8 billion won in the second quarter.

¿What means THAAD?

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (descent or reentry) by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach.

THAAD was developed after the experience of Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War in 1991. The THAAD interceptor carries no warhead, but relies on its kinetic energy of impact to destroy the incoming missile. A kinetic energy hit minimizes the risk of exploding conventional warhead ballistic missiles, and the warhead of nuclear tipped ballistic missiles will not detonate on a kinetic energy hit.

¿What means Scud?

Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The term comes from the NATO reporting name "Scud" which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies.

The Russian names for the missile are the R-11 (the first version), and the R-17 (later R-300) Elbrus (later developments).

The name Scud has been widely used to refer to these missiles and the wide variety of derivative variants developed in other countries based on the Soviet design.

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.

U.S. Wants THAAD in Korea

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in South Korea on Monday that the United States is continuing to seek the deployment of highly effective missile defenses there that are opposed by China.

However, the contentious issue of sending Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, batteries to bolster forces against North Korean missiles was not raised in closed-door meetings between Kerry and South Korean officials. 

THAAD deployment was requested last year by Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), amid growing concerns regarding North Korean missiles targeting South Korea. Site surveys for THAAD bases were carried out last year—a sign of the relative urgency of the commander’s request.

China presiona a Corea

Durante la última semana estamos observando cómo China está aumentando la presión sobre Corea del Sur para que impida el despliegue en su territorio del sistema defensivo conocido como Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

El pasado Lunes 13, el Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores de la República Popular China, Liu Jianchao, se reunió con su homólogo surcoreano Lee Kyung-soo. Al termino de la entrevista, Liu dijo a los periodistas que había hablado con Lee sobre las preocupaciones de China ante la posible implantación del THAAD: "Tuvimos una discusión muy franca y libre sobre el THAAD, durante la que se puso de manifiesto la posición china al respecto. Los Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur deben tomar una decisión adecuada sobre el THAAD", dijo Liu.

Beijing y Moscú están en contra de la implementación de una batería THAAD en Corea del Sur porque temen que su sistema de radar, que puede cubrir 1.000 kilometros, pueda ser utilizado en realidad para detectar misiles procedentes de China o de Rusia. Ahora bien, la posición oficial de Seúl y de Washington es que ni siquiera han discutido el despliegue del THAAD.

Russia Develops Own THAAD-like

A Russian system similar to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight, will begin trials soon. Russia has also been creating a system similar to another element of US missile shield, the GMD (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) capable to engage and destroy limited intermediate-and long-range ballistic missile threats in space. Unlike the GMD, the Russian counterpart will be mobile.

Han Min-koo, upbeat

During a parliamentary audit in the ministry building in Seoul, Defense Minister Han Min-gu said that he was looking at the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, a key element of the global U.S. missile defense program, from a standpoint of national security: "Given that the operational coverage of the THAAD is wide, should it be deployed here, it would help the defense of South Korea.”

In its parliamentary policy briefing, the ministry also said the number of North Korean summertime drills doubled this year, and that the North has gradually increased its strike capabilities: Over the last two years, the North has increased its number of multiple rocket launch systems by some 300. Currently the figure stands at 5,100, an increase from a 2012 estimate of 4,800, according to data from the ministry.

Seoul has been reluctant to openly talk about the issue of the THAAD deployment as it could cause diplomatic friction with Beijing and Moscow, which believe that the deployment could potentially target them in case of a crisis, but “While the assets that are available to cope with the North’s nuclear and missile threats are limited, the deployment of the THAAD would help ensure South Korea’s security and defense,” said Han during the audit.

Job opportunity for a THAAD Field Engineer

The successful candidate will function as a field engineer with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system and will assist the customer in the operation, maintenance, march-order and emplacement of the THAAD Fire Control & Communication (TFCC) system in accordance with established procedures detailed in Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM). Also would be desirable a prior experience in integrated missile defense systems, knowledge of hydraulics, basic electronic skills, basic mechanical skills, Network/Systems experience in design, installation, configuration, administration and troubleshooting of LAN/WAN infrastructure and security using Cisco routers/Switches, Juniper Firewall. (More details)

South Korea: China pissed due to the US antimissile plans

Beijing has voiced its concerns over THAAD plans, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang saying last month that “deploying missile defense on the Korean peninsula would not be in the interest of regional stability or strategic balance.”

The plans are justified by a growing missile threat from North Korea against America’s allies South Korea, Japan and military bases. The US military plans to deploy its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense in South Korea and, according to some media reports, is pressuring Seoul to do so instead of developing a national missile defense system.

"There was consideration being taken in order to consider THAAD being deployed here in Korea. It is a US initiative, and in fact, I recommended it as the commander," General Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK), said last month addressing a forum hosted by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, in Seoul. Washington is looking for a region-wide, operational anti-missile defense system, with military experts believing that it would be actually aimed against China’s increasing military presence.

Washington so far has not officially proposed Seoul host its anti-missile system, with the plan being currently internally debated, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said. While previously South Korean officials maintained that they want to provide protection from possible missile attacks domestically, on Wednesday South Korean acting Defense Minister Kim said he would not object to Korea hosting the American system, as long as Seoul does not pay for it. 

Army Pushes To Upgrade THAAD

Specifically, the Army paper recommends development, procurement and investment in systems like Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system.

“THAAD would provide the upper tier of a layered defense shield to protect high value strategic or tactical sites,” the paper states. The Army paper also calls for the development of a land-based anti-ship ballistic missile, directed energy capability, and additional land-based anti-ship fires capabilities such as the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System.

The Army calls for increased fielding of THAAD Patriot and the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, a technology which delivers precision fires against stationary or slow-moving targets at ranges up to 300 km., the paper cites. Specifically, the paper suggests upgrading the M57 ATACMS with an active radar guidance system and in-flight communications uplink. Officials who wrote the paper support a potential adaptation of the RGM-84 Harpoon and calls for the development of boost-glide entry warheads able to deploy “to hold adversary shipping at risk all without ever striking targets inland.”

S. Korea seeks multi-layered missile defense

South Korea will speed up building its own missile defense aimed at low-flying targets, while seeking ways to develop "multi-layered" deterrence against North Korea. 

Seoul has been gradually building an independent, low-tier missile shield called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), with mid-term plans to acquire the latest Patriot missiles and long-range early warning radars.

In addition to the terminal phase system, the defense ministry said it is considering multi-layered defense to effectively strike ballistic missiles coming from different altitudes. "Our military is establishing a low-tier terminal-phase KAMD considering the range of North Korea's incoming ballistic missiles. It was reflected in the military acquisition plan and will be completed faster than expected," ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing. "Our military is also looking into various measures to bolster the terminal phase, low-altitude defense to effectively counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threat."

Kim didn't specify weapons systems, but he excluded the Standard Missile-3, which intercepts missiles at an altitude over 400-500 kilometers, from the shopping list. Although there have been calls to adopt the long-range missile defense to establish a multi-layered shield against the North, Seoul's defense ministry has remained cautious over the American missile program as it could spur a regional arms race involving China and further contribute to mounting costs in the national missile program. Kim's remark raised speculation that Seoul is seeking to adopt systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) by Lockheed Martin as a possible next step. THAAD is designed to shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, using a hit-to-kill method.

Seoul has been pushing to bolster its defense against the communist rival after it successfully fired off a long-range rocket last December. Pyongyang claims the launch was aimed at putting a satellite into orbit, but Seoul and Washington consider it as a covert ballistic-missile technology test. Military experts say operating missile defense at different altitudes could provide enhanced protection against North Korea's mid- and long-range ballistic missiles.

Lockheed Martin wins $4 billion Pentagon missile defense deal

The Pentagon said on Friday it had finalized a contract worth nearly $4 billion with Lockheed Martin Corp. to supply additional missile defense equipment to the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

The deal involves Lockheed's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system that is designed to intercept ballistic missiles in midair, according to the the Pentagon's daily digest of major weapons contracts.

The contract reflects growing confidence and demand for the missile defense system, said Riki Ellison, founder of the non-profit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

Western Pacific: Missile-Defense Test Succeeds

Navy and Army missile-defense crews successfully intercepted two medium-range ballistic missile targets during a Sept. 10 test conducted in the western Pacific, near the Army's Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site.

The crew of the destroyer Decatur used its AN/SPY-1 radar to track one of the target missiles. Using its Aegis ballistic-missile defense system, the crew then launched a Standard Missile-3 Block IA missile to intercept the target. Additionally, soldiers attached to Alpha Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, used an AN/TPY-2 radar system and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system to find and track the missiles.

Using THAAD, the crew launched an interceptor missile, which caught and destroyed the second test missile target. The Missile Defense Agency, Ballistic Missile Defense System Operational Test Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, and U.S. Pacific Command also played key roles in the successful test. 

Lockheed Eyes Closer, Stronger Presence in Middle East

The maker of the F-35 fighter jet and Aegis missile systems still lags rivals Raytheon Company, with about 26% of sales from abroad, and Boeing’s defense division, which says about 42% of its backlog is outside the US. Both rivals are targeting 30% foreign revenue. Lockheed has already sold its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to the UAE, where it has a stake in a large aircraft maintenance and overhaul business. (Read more)

Confidential report lists U.S. weapons system designs compromised by Chinese cyberspies

The designs included those for the advanced Patriot missile system, known as PAC-3; an Army system for shooting down ballistic missiles, known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD; and the Navy’s Aegis ballistic-missile defense system. (Read more)

 

 

Japan Plans More Aggressive Defense

 

Japan is considering several options to boost its BMD portfolio, consisting of four Kongo-class destroyers and two larger Atago-class Aegis cruisers, and PAC-3 units. While the 2009 version of the proposals specifically mentions purchasing THAAD and an “advanced” version of the PAC-3, the new version recommends strengthening land-based BMD, leaving Japan a choice between purchasing either THAAD or the Aegis Ashore land-based version of the Aegis system, and the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) system for last-ditch interdiction. Japanese defense planners see cruise missiles in general and China’s DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile in particular as growing threats. This means that on top of the planned upgrades to employ the SM-3 Block IIA Aegis system when it becomes available, Japan also is considering purchasing the extended-range anti-air warfare RIM-174 missile. (Read more)

 

 

The Gulf Union: defense first

 

In 2011, when Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah announced the intention to create the Gulf Union, one facet of the initiative stood out immediately—that of defense. The idea of the Gulf Union is to unify many aspects of the GCC under a new mantle, across a number of fields from economics to social issues to defense. We must not forget that defense is the one aspect of the GCC states that is unbreakable and a necessary component in a changing and evolving regional security environment. (Read more)

Is China Building A “Use It Or Lose It” Military?

 

There is no question that the pace of military modernization by the People’s Republic of China is increasing. Investments are being made in all the areas that would support military actions against its neighbors. These include a massive increase in theater ballistic missiles targeted against Taiwan, Japan and U.S. bases in the Pacific, anti-satellite weapons, advanced air defenses, several fifth-generation fighters and an expanded Navy that includes one aircraft carrier -- with more to be built -- and numerous different classes of conventional and nuclear submarines. Numerous independent studies in the United States and elsewhere have warned that in another decade or so, China could achieve military superiority in the Western Pacific, particularly if it chose to do a “Pearl Harbor” and strike without warning. (Read more)