The combined use of drones, artillery, and missiles in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh offers critical insight into the conduct of future wars.
On November 26, South Korea announced it had taken delivery of its first Cheongung-II medium-range air defense battery. This delivery marks the first of seven planned batteries. South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development began developing the Cheongung-II, also known as KM-SAM Block II, in 2012. The system can range up to 40 km with an...
On December 1, Russia announced it had deployed S-300V4 air defense systems to disputed islands claimed by Japan. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the S-300s were positioned on the island of Iturup, part of what Russia calls the Southern Kuril Islands and what Japan calls the Northern Territories. Russia seized the island chain towards the...
On November 25, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced plans to begin producing the new Korean Tactical Surface to Surface Missile (KTSSM). Production will run between 2020-2025 to develop at least 200 missiles. The KTSSM is GPS-guided and can range around 120 km. It is expected to enter service around 2022. Related Links:...
On November 26, Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced it had conducted a successful test launch of its A-135 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptor. The launch took place at Kazakhstan’s Sary Shagan test range. The A-135 system entered service in the 1990s to replace the Soviet-era A-35 anti-missile system, and is designed to intercept an ICBM strike...
On November 16, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Navy conducted a successful test intercept of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA against an ICBM-class target. Designated FTM-44 “Stellar Lance,” the event satisfies a Congressional mandate to test the SM-3 IIA against an ICBM by the end of 2020. The MDA released the following news release: ...
On October 21, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles to Taiwan. On October 26, the United States also approved the sale to Taiwan of up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles. The sales are...
On September 24, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $241 million sale of Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to the Netherlands. The deal comprises 34 PAC-3 MSE interceptors and other related parts, training, and equipment. The Netherlands previously took delivery of recapitalized Patriot fire units in July 2019. Related Links:...
Between June 16-September 16, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported 17 Houthi missile attacks on its territory and within Yemen. CSIS data now includes 177 publicly reported intercepts. Below is a summary of recent missile and drone activity. September 10 KSA air defenses intercept several ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs targeting Saudi Arabia. The...
In September, the German Navy finalized a $194 million (USD) deal to procure additional RBS15 antiship missiles, jointly developed by Sweden’s Saab and Germany’s Diehl Defense. The missiles will be delivered between 2023-2026 and installed on the navy’s K130 Braunschweig-class corvettes. The RBS15 Mk 3 is a subsonic cruise missile with a range of 200...
