On July 18, the United States issued new economic sanctions on Iranian entities regarding non-nuclear behavior, including ballistic missile development. The sanctions target 18 groups and individuals accused of supporting Iran’s military, an Iran-based international criminal group, and the country’s ballistic missile program. Iran’s parliament retaliated by earmarking an additional investment in its missile program...
On July 12, the Trump Administration released a statement regarding its objections to specific provisions within the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Of its 27 listed objections, three concern U.S. missile and missile defense programs. First, the administration objects to the provision on development of an intermediate-range ground-launched cruise missile, over concerns that the...
On July 10, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of seven Patriot Configuration-3+ firing units worth up to $3.9 billion. In addition to the necessary technical equipment to operate the system (radars, control station, antenna, launching stations and electrical power plants), the State Department approved the purchase of 56 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-TBM...
On July 10, U.S. Patriot missiles arrived at Lithuania’s northern Siauliai military airbase in preparation for NATO’s Tobruk Legacy air defense military exercises occurring July 11-22. The exercise, “demonstrates that such moves are no longer a taboo in the region,” according to Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimondas Karoblis. Lithuania has been calling for assistance in deploying...
On July 11, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted an intercept test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The test, designated Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-18, was successful. The test took place in Kodiak, Alaska, and was the first time that the THAAD system intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) representative target. This was...
On July 5, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States to sell an undisclosed number of Patriot systems to Poland. In March 2017, Warsaw announced its interest in purchasing as many as eight Patriot systems by the end of the year, but stipulated that the systems must...
On July 5, Pakistan test fired its short-range Nasr missile (HATF-9). Based on these tests, Pakistan’s military claims to have enhanced the rocket’s flight maneuverability and extended its range from 60 to 70 km. Pakistani officials emphasized the missile’s deterrent effect, saying “This weapon system will augment credible deterrence against prevailing threat spectrum more effectively, including anti-missile...
In a statement on July 4, the French defense minister announced the first successful test firing of a new helicopter-launched antiship cruise missile. During a test on June 21, 2017, the 20 km range Sea Venom/ANL (anti-navire léger ) was “pushed to the very edge of its range capability,” according to the missile manufacturer’s program...
On July 5, Russian Tupolev-95MS “Bear” long-range strategic bombers fired Kh-101 cruise missiles to destroy three Islamic State ammunition depots and a command facility near the town of Aqirbat on the border of the Syrian provinces of Homs and Hama. The Kh-101 missiles flew 1,000 km before reaching their targets. The Russian Defense Ministry added...
On July 3, North Korea successfully flight tested a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time. The missile flew on a lofted trajectory to a range of around 930 kilometers, and to an altitude of 2,800 kilometers. This indicates the missile’s range could be as much as 7,000 kilometers when flown on a...
