President Trump’s recent claim that U.S. ballistic-missile defenses are effective “97 percent of the time” has provoked much discussion about the capabilities of one U.S. defense system in particular: Ground-Based Midcourse Defense.
North Korea has reportedly conducted a static test of a “new” type of solid fuel engine. Believed to have been tested at Hamhung on the country’s eastern coast, the engine was evaluated in a horizontal configuration, unlike previous tests of liquid fuel engines. North Korea is known to have developed two solid fuel missiles, the...
On October 24, the United States, South Korea (ROK), and Japan began a joint missile early warning exercise. Although no missiles will be fired, the two-day joint exercise has mobilized four Aegis Combat System-equipped ships to practice detecting and tracking computer-simulated North Korean ballistic missiles. The USS Stethem (DDG 63) and the USS Milius (DDG...
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Tuesday that nine of Australia’s new planned frigates, scheduled to enter construction in 2020, will be fitted with the Aegis combat system, which will allow them to perform both air and missile defense missions. In announcing the decision, Turnbull emphasized that “Recent events in our region have proven that...
On September 20, the Japanese Defense Ministry relocated Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missile interceptors on the northern island of Hokkaido to an air defense base close to the flight paths of recent North Korean ballistic missile tests. The PAC-3 was transported to the southern city of Hakodate on the Oshima Peninsula from a base...
On September 15, North Korea fired what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido for the second time in a month. Launched from Sunan just north of Pyongyang, the missile flew for 19 minutes, traveling 3,700 km, reaching an altitude of 770 km, and landing 2,200...
On September 12, the South Korean Air Force conducted its first live-fire test of the Taurus air-to-surface cruise missile. The missile, air-launched from an F-15K fighter jet, flew over 400 km and successfully navigated several obstacles at low altitude before hitting a target off South Korea’s western coast. Part of South Korea’s “Kill Chain” air...
On September 3, North Korea successfully tested what state-run news outlets called a “two-stage thermonuclear weapon.” The underground explosion at the northeastern Punggye-ri nuclear test site produced a 6.3 magnitude artificial earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Estimates of the yield have ranged from between 50 and 60 kilotons, according to South Korea’s weather...
The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. military will be allowed to install four more THAAD launchers at the site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province after the Ministry of Environment concluded that the full deployment would have only a small impact on the people and neighboring environment. This decision comes after the...
On Saturday, August 26, North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) from Kittaeryong, in its southeast Kangwon province. Initial reports from South Korea stated that a Multiple Launch Rocket System was used to fire 300-mm rockets. South Korean military officials revised this initial assessment after joint evaluations with the United States and now assesses...
