Possible first stage of a KN-08 road-mobile ICBM

North Korea testing engine for possible nuclear missile, say analysts

"...The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said images of the North's main rocket launch site suggested one "and maybe more" tests of what was probably the first stage of a KN-08 road-mobile ICBM...."

Reference: www.theguardian.com .

Huntsville-made Standard Missile-3 Block IB deployed for the first time aboard Navy ship

Alabama-made Standard-Missile 3 deployed for first time on Navy ship

"..."The SM-3 Block IB's completion of initial operational testing last year set the stage for a rapid deployment to theater," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "The SM-3's highly successful test performance gives combatant commanders around the world the confidence they need to counter the growing ballistic missile threat." ..."

Reference: www.al.com .

Two more Aegis-equipped ballistic-missile defense ships headed to Japan by 2017

Hagel: U.S. to Send 2 More Aegis Ships to Japan

"...For reasons a senior defense official said included North Korean provocations, treaty commitments to Japan and U.S. national security interests, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today that the United States will send Japan two more Aegis-equipped ballistic-missile defense ships by 2017...."

Reference: www.defense.gov .

Next intercept test in June

U.S. aims to correct issue behind 2013 failed missile defense test

"...The failed intercept last July involved the earlier version of the Raytheon kill vehicle, which failed to separate from the third stage of the booster rocket. Eventually both versions will be replaced by the new kill vehicle..."

Reference: www.reuters.com .

India test launches long range N-missile from under the sea

India test fires long range N-missile launched from under sea

"...The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is being readied for deployment on various platforms including the around 6,000-tonne indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant which will soon be ready for sea trials, sources said. ..."

Reference: www.business-standard.com .

Fact Checking News Shows On Missile Defense Statements

PunditFact: Fact-checking the Sunday March 23 news shows

"...We can't check what Obama should have done, but we can look at Romney's assertion that Obama nixed a missile defense program in Eastern Europe "as a gift to Russia."..."

Reference: www.tampabay.com .

Help the U.S. Space & Rocket Center build a new public exhibition featuring the Shuttle Training Aircraft used by space shuttle astronauts!

Help the U.S. Space & Rocket Center build a new public exhibition featuring the Shuttle Training Aircraft used by space shuttle astronauts!

"...The U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation in Huntsville, Alabama is asking for your help to raise $70,000 to begin installation of a Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) in the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Shuttle Park. The aircraft, which bears the tail number N945NA..."
Reference: Rocket City .

North Korea Launches 10 short-range missiles

North Korea fires 10 short-range missiles: Yonhap

"...North Korea fired 10 short-range missiles into the sea off the east of the Korean peninsula on Sunday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported..."

Reference: www.reuters.com .

MDA Director Vice Adm. James D. Syring Discusses Missile Defense Threats, Capabilities

Missile Defense Agency Director Discusses Threats, Capabilities

Department of Navy Photo

"...Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring discussed the Missile Defense Agency’s concerns and its interests in improving capability and capacity during Aviation Week’s Defense Technologies and Requirements Conference. “All you have to do is read the press over the last week or so,” he said. “You [can] start to piece together what we’re concerned about, and the threat that is posed by the increasing ballistic missile threat around the world.”..."
Reference: www.defense.gov .

Reinstate the ballistic missile defense program and policy

Republicans: Revisit scrapped missile defense program to help Ukraine

"...Mr. Obama's move away from Bush's program in 2009 was largely perceived as a concession to pressure from Russia to cancel the program, something the U.S. denied. And now, pressure is mounting to return to the system as a way to flex U.S. military might without putting troops on the ground in Eastern Europe...."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com .

Torch Technologies, Inc., Huntsville, Ala. awarded $70,997,405 contract for missile element simulation

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: Defense Dept. Contracts for Mar. 4, 2014

Torch Technologies, Inc.

"...Torch Technologies, Inc., Huntsville, Ala. was awarded a $70,997,405 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for missile element simulation which will enhance and maintain the current suite of missile modeling simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and prototype development facilities. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Feb. 11, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-D-0017)...."
Reference: www.huntingtonnews.net .

2015 budget funding also to continue efforts aimed at developing a kill vehicle that could be used on a Standard-Missile-3 ...

Pentagon to upgrade, improve U.S. missile defense system

Missile Defense Agency Photo

"...The fiscal 2015 budget also continues to fund that work, Syring said, noting that the effort was aimed at developing a kill vehicle that could be used on a ground-based interceptor, a Standard-Missile-3 or some future system...."
Reference: www.reuters.com .

Kuwait makes another order for patriot missile-defense systems from Raytheon

Raytheon reports $655 million order for Patriot missile-defense system

"..."Kuwait is part of Patriot's current family of 12 nations that have already selected Patriot as the cornerstone of their air and missile defense strategy. Their decision to further strengthen their defenses with technologically advanced new production fire units reaffirms our strong partnership and their trust in Patriot to protect Kuwait's people and critical infrastructure."..."

Reference: www.bizjournals.com .

Will Missile Defense Be Harmed By DoD Cuts To Navy Cruiser Fleet? Ticonderoga class cruisers are equipped with anti-ballistic missile capability. Are any of these cruisers included?

DoD budget seeks cuts in BAH, commissary, Tricare benefits

"...The big impact on the Navy’s surface fleet will be on cruisers. Half of the Navy’s cruiser fleet — 11 ships — will be “laid up,” meaning they will be taken out of normal deployment rotations and essentially left unmanned...."

Reference: www.militarytimes.com

More Reading: Hagel also discussed a plan to take half the fleet’s 22 Aegis cruisers out of service, laying them up pending the availability of modernization funds.

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USS Donald Cook and other destroyers form the centerpiece of Europe’s Phased Adaptive Approach program

USS Donald Cook prepares for first ballistic missile defense patrol

Photo: U.S. Navy

"...The Cook is the first of four American destroyers to move to Rota over the next two years, each equipped with Aegis radar system and SM-3 missiles capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles. Together the ships will form the centerpiece of Europe’s Phased Adaptive Approach program, a missile shield with radar in Turkey, a command element in Germany, and ground-based interceptors in Romania and Poland. ..."
Reference: www.stripes.com .

Four locations to be studied for possible East Coast missile defense site (Environmental Impact Studies)

Fort Drum among four locations to be studied for East Coast missile defense site

"...The environmental impact study will take two years and will look at how building and operating the facility would affect land and water use, air quality, transportation, and socioeconomic aspects of the community. Sites in Michigan, Ohio and Maine will also undergo studies...."

Reference: www.northcountrypublicradio.org .

Modification to existing Army contract for work on the Patriot Missile for Raytheon

Raytheon lands $108 million contract for work on Patriot Missile

"...modification to an existing Army contract for work on the Patriot Missile. A portion of the work will take place in Huntsville...."

Reference: www.al.com .

Growing strategic missile threat from Iran, Syria, Hezbollah...

Missile defense expert warns of growing strategic threat

"...Israel’s enemies are arming themselves with precision-guided heavy rockets and will inevitably come to possess GPS-guided ballistic missiles, an architect of the Israeli missile defense program warned on Wednesday...."

Reference: www.jpost.com .

Nuclear weapons, missiles and Dennis Rodman

McCain: Rodman is 'Dangerous Idiot' Aiding 'Brutal, Crazy Man'

"..."But the other part of it is very serious, because it props up and helps this incredibly brutal young man. Who, by the way, has nuclear weapons and missiles." ..."

Reference: www.newsmax.com .

...More Missile Defense Contracts Awarded Recently

BAE Wins Share Of $220M Army Missile Defense Contract

"...Exelis Inc., Science Applications International Corp. and Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc. have also been named as awardees..."

Reference: www.law360.com .

Iranian agreement and missile defense

Would an Iran Deal Obviate Missile Defense in Europe?

"...Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the press that implementation of the agreement would make the planned deployment of U.S. SM-3 missile interceptors in Romania and Poland unnecessary...."

Reference: www.brookings.edu .

Fact or Fiction? Iranian missile-carrying Fotros drone developed

Iran unveils 'biggest missile-equipped drone'

"...the reconnaissance and combat drone Fotros had a range of 2,000km, capable of covering much of the Middle East, including Israel. "The Fotros drone has..."
Reference: www.aljazeera.com .

Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) test

Click above for video

US Tests New Stealthy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile

"...Lockheed Martin conducted the second successful test of the new Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) it is developing for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. ..."
Reference: thediplomat.com .

MEADS Missile Test: simultaneous targets intercepted and destroyed

Unprecedented Dual Intercept Success For MEADS At White Sands Missile Range

"...The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) intercepted and destroyed two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during a stressing demonstration of its 360-degree air and missile defense (AMD) capabilities at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The flight test achieved all criteria for success...."

Reference: www.sacbee.com .

Deputy Secretary General attends ballistic missile defense groundbreaking in Romania

Deputy Secretary General attends ballistic missile defence groundbreaking in Romania

"...NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow on Monday (28 October 2013) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony of the missile defence facility at the Deveselu airbase in southern Romania. “This facility will be an important part of NATO’s overall missile defences in Europe,” said Ambassador Vershbow...."

Reference: www.nato.int .