On December 26, 2016, India conducted the fourth test of its indigenously developed Agni-5 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast. Agni-5 reportedly has the potential to carry either a 1,500 kg high explosive warhead or a 1-ton nuclear warhead. With a range of 5,000- 8,000 km, Agni-5 is the longest ranged missiles...
India’s Nirbhay nuclear-capable subsonic cruise missile failed its fourth test-launch on December 21, 2016. The missile, intended to have a range of 1,000 km, deviated from its path shortly after its launch from the Integrated Test Range at Balasore in Odisha. Sources at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) claim that the issue was...
On December 17, Azerbaijan’s Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov confirmed that his country will purchase the Iron Dome defense system as part of a $4.8 billion deal with Israel. Azerbaijan will be one of the first countries to acquire the system, which is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery. It is unknown how many...
The final French Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, Le Téméraire, has been docked at the Brest naval base to begin modifications that would allow the submarine to launch M51 nuclear ballistic missiles. The M51s will replace the obsolete and soon-to-be out of service M45 missiles that previously armed the SSBNs in the French fleet. DCNS...
India is preparing to conduct its fourth test of its Agni-5 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile in late December or early January, local media sources claim. India’s Strategic Forces Command had delayed the test due to complications that arose during Agni-5’s last test in 2015. This upcoming test is likely to take place at Wheeler Island,...
The Missile Defense Agency launched a pair of SM-6 Dual I interceptors during a December 14 test, destroying a medium-range ballistic missile. The SM-6 uses an explosive warhead to destroy incoming cruise missiles and ballistic missiles during their terminal approach to a target. The SM-6 is slated to play a key role in the Navy’s Aegis...
On December 14, 2016, Pakistan tested its Hatf 7 “Babur” medium-range cruise missile from an undisclosed location. According to the Pakistan Military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the missile was an enhanced version of the standard Babur missile, allowing it to “strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy, at a range of 700...
On December 12, 2016, South Korea received 40 German Taurus KEPD 350 “bunker-buster” air-to-surface missiles. The missiles will be taken to Daegu and fitted on F-15 fighter jets in order to help arm South Korea against the North. Taurus missiles have a range of 500 km, capable of targeting buildings in North Korea from deep...
On December 12, 2016, the Senate confirmed Major General James Dickinson, previously the chief of staff of U.S. Strategic Command, as the new commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command and the Army Forces Strategic Command. Major General Dickinson will also be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. Including having served...
Russia appears to be building permanent structures to house its SS-26 Iskander missile systems in the Kaliningrad enclave bordering Poland and Lithuania. These reports come from arms control experts who have used satellite imagery to pinpoint the location of the Iskanders and are now beginning to see the construction of permanent structures to shelter these...
