In early January, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman instructed the Israel Defense Forces to establish a new force of ground-to-ground missiles. This unit will be part of the army’s ground forces and initially equipped with missiles ranging up to 150 km. Later, missiles with a range of 300 kilometers will be added. Israel’s mid-range missile...
On February 5, Russian state-run media reported that the country has permanently deployed Iskander missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave bordering Poland and Lithuania. Russia previously deployed the advanced missile system to Kaliningrad in December 2017, a reportedly “temporary” move in response to a U.S. build up of forces in Europe. The Iskander (NATO designation: SS-26...
On February 5, Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted a short-range ballistic missile targeting the city of Khamis Mushait. According to Arab Coalition Spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, the missile was launched by Houthi militants from Yemen’s Sa’adah Governorate. This marks at least the sixteenth reported Houthi ballistic missile targeting Khamis Mushait, a frequent target of Houthi-Saleh...
On February 1, Turkey successfully test fired its indigenous HİSAR-A surface-to-air missile. The missile launch took place in the Central Anatolian province of Aksaray, and was attended by Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli. The HİSAR-A is a short-range, low-altitude air defense system designed to protect critical infrastructure and troops against enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned...
On January 31, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted an unsuccessful SM-3 Block IIA intercept test from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. According to the MDA testing schedule, the test was likely intended to demonstrate an Aegis Ashore launch-on-remote intercept using a TPY-2 radar. This marks the missile’s second unsuccessful test intercept in...
On January 30, Ukraine flight tested an indigenously-produced, ground-launched cruise missile. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov, did not reveal the name or specifications of the missile, but said it complies with international agreements. One source has identified the missile as the Neptune, a Ukrainian advanced subsonic cruise missile based...
On January 23, the Department of Defense’s Department of Testing and Evaluation released its annual report, which noted improvements in the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. According to the report, GMD “demonstrated the capability to defend the U.S. homeland from a small number” of intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missiles launched “with simple countermeasures.” Related...
On January 22-23, Iran test fired several missiles as part of its ongoing war game, codenamed Muhammad Rasulullah-5. On January 22, Iranian forces claimed a successful test launch of their Labbayk-1 rocket. On January 23, Naval forces fired a Ghadir cruise missile for the first time, targeting a mock enemy vessel. Army forces successfully fired...
On January 24, aerospace and defense company Orbital ATK announced it had secured a contract with the U.S. Navy for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The AARGM-ER will reportedly offer double the range of its predecessor, the AGM-88E AARGM, which is currently in full-rate production. Analysts note that this improved standoff capability is...
On January 10, Russian officials acknowledged plans to deploy a second S-400 air defense division to occupied Crimea. Vadim Astafyev, Russia’s Southern Military District spokesman, told the state-run TASS news agency that the incoming system would be placed on combat duty in Crimea “soon.” The first S-400 division was earmarked for delivery in July 2016...
