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...
On June 29, the U.S. State Department approved a $1.3 billion arms sale to Taiwan. The sale features seven main items, including technical support for an early warning radar system, upgrades for several torpedo systems, and components for the SM-2 missile. Congress will review the agreement and then negotiate the specific equipment and monetary value...
Moscow and Ankara agreed on the delivery of the S-400 air defense system to Turkey, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said June 29. Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kozhin as saying, “The contract has been agreed upon. The issue on the loan has not been resolved yet.” Kozhin added that Russia sees “no obstacles”...
On June 28, China launched its new domestically produced Type 055 guided missile destroyer. The Chinese media reported that the 10,000 ton vessel features new air defense, antimissile, antiship, and antisubmarine weapons. The ship includes 100 vertical launch tubes and is approximately the size of similar Japanese, South Korean, and U.S. guided missile destroyers. It...
On June 26, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) deployed more than 10 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) to South Korea for use by U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters. The JASSM is a conventional, stealthy, air-launched ground attack cruise missile with a standard range of 370 km. There also exists an extended range version which can...
On June 26, the Russian state run news agency TASS released a statement from the Minister of Defense stating that a Borey-class ballistic missile submarine Yuri Dolgoruky successfully test fired an 3M14 Bulava (SS-N-32) submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The nuclear submarine launched the missile from an underwater position northwest of Russia in the Barents Sea and reportedly...
On June 26, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) released its 2017 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat report. The 40-page assessment finds that technology for ballistic and cruise missiles is advancing in countries around the globe, increasing potential threats to the United States. NASIC released its last report on ballistic and cruise missiles...
On June 23, South Korea successfully test fired its Hyunmoo-2C missile from Anheung in the South Chungcheong Province. The missile has a reported range of 800km, a voluntary cap agreed to by South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in observed the test, commenting that it demonstrates South Korea’s “readiness” in the event of...
On June 22, North Korea tested a rocket engine that U.S. officials believe could be part of its program to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According to one official, the test could be for the smallest stage of an ICBM rocket engine. It is the DPRK’s first rocket engine test since March. The test...
