On December 26, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will deploy its Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle in 2019. President Putin’s announcement came following a successful Avangard test launch that same day, marking what appears to be the missile’s fourteenth flight test. The Avangard was one of six “next generation” weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir...
On December 25, Israeli aircraft fired missiles against an arms depot located west of Damascus. The strike was reportedly conducted from Lebanese airspace and, according to Syrian media, injured three Syrian soldiers. Newsweek reports that several Hezbollah officials were also targeted and killed in the attack, citing an unnamed U.S. DoD official familiar with the...
On December 23, India’s Strategic Forces Command conducted a flight test of its Agni-4 intermediate-range ballistic missile. The test took place on Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast, and was reportedly a “complete success”. The Agni-4 is a two-stage, solid propellant missile with a range of 4,000 km and is capable of carrying a nuclear...
Between November 21 and December 19, Houthi forces fired or attempted to fire at least one ballistic missile. The target of this launch is unclear. Below is a summary of select Houthi missile-launch reports during this period. November 29: Houthi forces attempted to fire a ballistic missile, but the Arab Coalition claims to have destroyed...
As shown in footage released on December 20, Turkey has conducted its first long-range test fire of the Bora short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). According to Turkish Defense Industry Chief Executive İsmail Demir, the test was successful, with the Bora missile striking a sea-based target 280 km away. The Bora missile project was first publicly announced...
On November 24, China’s Navy conducted its first flight test of the JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The test took place in the Bohai Sea and, according to one report, “likely verified the system’s proper cold ejection from the submarine-based launch tube.” The test has not yet been acknowledged by Chinese authorities. The JL-3, also...
An image released online in early November appears to show a ground-launched version of China’s YJ-12 antiship cruise missile. The missile is paired with a five-axle TEL, similar to that paired with China’s CJ-10 cruise missile. The YJ-12 is a supersonic cruise missile with an estimated range of 400-500 km while carrying a 200 kg payload....
On September 5, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $105 million sale of Patriot air defense equipment and support to the Netherlands. The planned “Recapitalization” (RECAP) deal of four Dutch Patriot fire units includes “Radar Sets (RS), Radar Digital Processors (RDP), Engagement Control Stations (ECS), Information and Coordination Central (ICC), Modem Man Stations (MMS),...
On August 24, China’s PLA-Navy began sea trials for the first of its Type 055 guided-missile destroyers. Lead ship Nanchang (101) was launched in June 2017 in Shanghai and was declared by the China’s Defense Ministry “a milestone in the PLA Navy’s strategic transformation and development”. China launched a second 055 in May 2018, followed...
The U.S. Air Force recently contracted with defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin to develop two new U.S. hypersonic weapon systems. In August 2018, the Air Force awarded $480 million to develop the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), seeking an initial operating capability in late 2021. Designated the AGM-183A , the ARRW is being designed as a...
