On September 26, the Pentagon announced the deployment of one Patriot battery, four Sentinel surveillance radars, and 200 support personnel to Saudi Arabia, following Iranian attacks on Saudi oil facilities last week. In a statement, the Department of Defense also announced it would maintain two Patriot batteries and one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)...
On September 25, defense industry sources confirmed that Russia will flight test an upgraded variant of the Oniks sea-launched cruise missile in the coming months. According to a TASS report, the upgraded missile, designated Oniks-M, will feature a 800 km maximum range, improved guidance, and hardening against electronic countermeasures. While tests were scheduled to begin...
On September 23, Taiwanese media reported that the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) began system integration tests of the Sky Bow 3 surface-to-air missile for its new class of patrol vessels. According to reports, the navalized Sky Bow—designated the Sea Bow—is installed with folding fins to fit the Mk 41 naval vertical...
Between September 17-19, the Russian armed forces flight tested several 9M723 Iskander ballistic missiles during military exercises in Kazakhstan. According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the exercises successfully struck their targets from “several hundred kilometers away.” The Iskander missile entered Russian service in 2006 and has a range of 500 km. Related Links: Пуски ракет...
On September 12, the U.S. Department of State approved the sale of TOW-2A missiles to Morocco at an estimated cost of $776 million. According to a State Department news release, the proposed sale includes 2429 TOW-2A Radio Frequency (RF) missiles and over 400 launchers. In a statement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the “proposed...
On September 18, the Saudi Ministry of Defense presented wreckage of cruise missiles and delta-winged drones involved in attacks on its oil infrastructure. While Saudi officials claimed the weapons were Iranian-produced, they refrained from explicitly accusing Iran as responsible for the strikes. After meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, U.S. Secretary of State...
On September 16, the Indian Air Force successfully tested the Astra, its first indigenous medium-range air-to-air missile. According to a Ministry of Defence press release, an Indian Su-30 MKI fighter launched the missile off eastern India’s Odisha Coast, striking an aerial target. Developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the Astra reportedly possesses...
On September 14, the military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Khurais oil field and the Abqaiq refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia. While Houthi media stated that ten “normal and jet engine”-powered drones were used in the operation, others suggest that cruise missiles may have been involved. Following...
On September 10, North Korea test fired two KN-25 “super large” guided rockets from Kaechon, 80 km north of Pyongyang. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, both projectiles flew 330 km and reached an altitude of 50 to 60 km before landing east of the launch site. These are the 14th and 15th...
Between September 4-6, the U.S. Navy test fired four Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) off the coast of California. The tests validated the performance of the life-extended Trident II missile, which was originally designed with a lifespan to 2024. The life-extended missile is expected to be operational through the late 2040s. Entering service...
