ADA TODAY
Links to Air and Missile Defense Articles From News Media Websites

Saturday 27 - Sunday 28
February 2010

Why Japan is Ready for Anything Pyongyang Might Want to Throw at It
(The Guardian)
As their new Patriot missile defense system is deployed, the Japanese are gaining a new confidence in relations with China, North Korea and Russia.

Airborne Laser Destroys
Ballistic Missile
(Philadelphia Bulletin)
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s  (MDA) airborne laser successfully shot down its first ballistic missile recently over Ventura, Calif.  The airborne laser “successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile” and “the entire engagement occurred within two minutes of the target missile launch.”

Anti-Missile Lasers Give Defensive Weapons the Upper Hand
(NaplesNewscom)
Since September 1944, the ballistic missile has been considered to be the “the ultimate weapon.” Until now there has been no defense against ballistic missiles. However, earlier this month the US Missile Defense Agency announced that a laser-armed plane shot down a ballistic missile in a test engagement.

US Intel Report on Taiwan
Air Power Released
(DefenseNews.com - Subscription)
A US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment points out weaknesses in Taiwan's air power and air defense capabilities.

Polish President Gives Green Light to US Troops' Deployment in Poland
(RT)
Polish President Lech Kaczynski has ratified the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, laying out the conditions for the deployment of US troops on Polish soil. According to the agreement, about 100 American soldiers will service up to eight US Patriot missile launchers that are to be integrated into Poland’s national security system. Once American soldiers are based in Poland, they will be subject to Polish law.

Iran's Counter-Strike
(Global Security)
Particularly worrisome would be the introduction of portable Air Defense Missile System (MANPADS), into Afghanistan.

Why The Nuclear Review Is Delayed
(Atlantic Online)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has proposed a compromise -- a joint missile defense program for Europe. Russia does not seem to be enthusiastic about the idea.

Friday
26 February 2010

Missile Defense Agency, Obama Campaign Logos Cause Internet Stir
(FoxNews.com)
Is this Logo-gate? The Internet is abuzz with comparisons of the "strikingly similar" logos of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the ubiquitous Obama 2008 campaign.

Pentagon Urges Congress
to Wait On Gays In Military
(Reuters.com)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and military leaders want Congress to hold off on lifting restrictions on homosexuals in the armed forces until a year-long review is completed, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

What the Russian Papers Say
(RIA Novosti)
Disappointed by yet another delay in Russian S-300 air defense systems deliveries, the Islamic Republic announced it could enrich its own uranium to 20% and higher.

Engineering a Strength for NMSU
(Las Cruces Bulletin)
Vasquez’ teams work on developing integrated meteorological systems, tactical weather support for the U.S. Army and electronic countermeasures for U.S. Army air and missile defense systems, among other projects, she said.

Pentagon Suspends Career Aid For Spouses
(New York Times/AP)
Military spouses were enthusiastic last year when the government started offering them grants of up to $6,000 for college or career training. Word spread quickly and they signed up by the tens of thousands. But the response was so heavy that it nearly exhausted the program’s budget, prompting the Department of Defense to suspend it abruptly last week.

Russia Fumes at US
Missile Defense Plan
(New York Times/AP)
Russia has serious concerns about U.S. plans to deploy missile interceptors in Romania. The statement from ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko reflected Moscow's irritation about the U.S. missile defense plans and signaled tensions in relations with Washington.

Pull Your Weight, Europe - How NATO's failing in A'stan
(New York Post)
European leaders were shocked this week when Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a NATO audience that the alliance faces a "crisis" because the continent has largely demilitarized. Why the surprise -- have they been in a coma?

S-300 System Will be Delivered to Iran
(Hamsayeh.Net)
Sergei Lavrov Russia's Foreign Minister announced Moscow will certainly deliver the S-300 air defense systems to Iran as soon as technical problems are resolved.

GAO: Missile Defense Transition Provides Opportunity to Strengthen Acquisition
(defpro)
By law, GAO is directed to assess the annual progress the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made in developing and fielding the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

Meeting Taiwan's Self-Defense Needs
(Eurasia Review)
The Obama Administration has cleared the sale of advanced Patriot air defense missiles and Blackhawk helicopters to the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan as part of an arms sales package agreed to at the end of the Bush Administration. This is in keeping with the Taiwan Relations Act and the American commitment "to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character."

Mommy's War
(Washington Post)
The latest flurry of attention toward gays in the military shows that the question of who gets to be a soldier, and why, is sometimes unavoidably moral. So let's ask that question about another group of soldiers who haven't attracted as much talk but should: mothers, many of them single, in combat boots -- and combat zones.

Is the Missile Defense Agency's
Logo Obama-Meets-Islam?
(Washington Post)
The blogosphere is abuzz over conservatives' charges that a logo being used by the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency looks very much like a fusion of the Muslim crescent moon and star and the Obama campaign logo. Some folks even detected a similarity to the Iranian Space Agency logo.

Thursday
25 February 2010

China Might Boost Nuclear
Deterrent, Russian Expert Says
(Global Security Newswire)
The United States' expanding missile defense activities might lead China to boost its nuclear arsenal, a former senior Russian military official said.

Missile Defense Agency
Logo Upsets Right
(Huffington Post - Blog)
The logo, which first appeared on the Missile Defense Web site in the fall, was designed by TMP Government, a marketing and communications firm that has managed Web site redesigns and logos for numerous government agencies, including recovery.gov and more than a dozen Defense and intelligence-related sites.

Pentagon Complains About Contractor Quality
(Aviation Week)
David Altwegg, executive director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), declined to “name names,”  but ciited one example. A C-17-launched target failed to execute its mission, bringing an entire Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system to a halt in December.

Obama’s Missile Defense Logo is Muslim!
(The Atlantic Wire)
Big Government's Frank Gaffney finally has it: artistic evidence that the Obama administration is up to no good. The evidence in question is a redesigned shield for the Missile Defense Agency, which he says, "appears ominously to reflect a morphing of the Islamic crescent and star with the Obama campaign logo."

West is Idle Regarding Russian Proposals – Lavrov
(RT)
“They announce that they will deploy missile defense and air defense elements in Romania and Bulgaria, then they deny these reports, then they confirm these “They announce that they will deploy missile defense and air defense elements in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, then they deny these reports, then they confirm these reports. Of course we have questions in this situation and we are very frank about it,” said Minister Lavrov.

Wednesday
24 February 2010

Operation Iraqi Freedom Changes
to Operation New Dawn
(S1NET Msg, 24 Feb 10 Army G-1)
On February 17, 2010, the Secretary of Defense approved the name change of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn, effective 1 Sep 10, coinciding with the change of mission for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Russia Demands “Action, Not Words” Over NATO, US Anti-Missile System
(RT)
Russia’s NATO ambassador said that too many uncertainties surround the missile defense issue, including partnership in creating such a system, and exactly what threats the system protects against.

Russia 'Very Alarmed' Over Iran
(The Moscow Times)
"We are very alarmed, and we cannot accept this, that Iran is refusing to cooperate with the IAEA," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Ekho Moskvy radio. But Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabko reiterated Russia's position that it would not block an export of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran.

U.S. and Russia Nuclear Talks
Stuck on Missile Defense
(ABC News - Blog)
So what’s the hold-up? "Such a treaty is impossible and cannot be concluded without acknowledging interrelation between strategic offensive weapons and missile defense," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax on Friday. Russia has long argued that talks on strategic offensive arms cannot ignore missile defense initiatives; two subjects the US argues are separate.

Missile Defense Agency Logo Takes a Cue from Obama Campaign '08?
(Washington Times - Blog)
The US Missile Defense Agency, which is part of the US Department of Defense, went from using the first logo below to using a logo looking strangely similar to ...

Gates Presses Allies to Bolster
NATO as Major Threats Loom
(Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said members need to coordinate weapons acquisitions more. He cited the potential for the U.S. missile defense system to be integrated into a similar program that the alliance is developing.

Saturday 20 - Sunday 21
February 2010

The Transformation of
America’s Youth
(Richmond Times-Dispatch, LTG Michael A. Vane-Guest Columnist)
The young men and women in uniform, representing all 50 states and many of the U.S. territories, beamed with pride as they sang, chanted, and marched on stage -- looking sharp and in step. Their self-confidence and motivation were clearly discernible. They were very proud of themselves and their accomplishments.

Friday
19 February 2010

Report: US Missile Plans Holding Up Nuclear Treaty
(Washington Post/AP)
A Russian official said Friday that US plans for a revamped missile defense system in Romania are stalling talks on a new nuclear arms reduction treaty.

Russia Says May Deploy Missiles in Baltic Region
(Reuters)
Russia said on Friday it would deploy Iskander tactical missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave if it felt there was a direct European threat to Moscow.

After Long Delay S-400 Triumf
Finally Get to the Field
(Defense Update)
The Russian S-400 Triumph air and missile defense system was officially inducted into Russian army service – the first two systems have entered operational with the air defense regiment stationed at the Military Space Defense joint command.

Harris to Joint Raytheon IBCS Team
(UPI.com)
Raytheon has contracted Harris Corp. to join the team supporting a U.S. Army program designed to provide next-generation battlefield decision-making capabilities by working on the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.

US Tries to Exert Pressure on Iran Through Persian Gulf Countries
(Trend News Agency)
In January, the U.S. stepped up missile defense unit in the Persian Gulf. The Department of Defense said that the measure was due to the growing threat from Iran, which is armed with ballistic missiles, and is envisaged to protect U.S. military facilities in the region, as well as the territory of Washington's allies.

Some Doubt Iran's Boasts over
New Destroyer
(AOL News)
In the midst of a diplomatic standoff over its controversial nuclear program, Iran has rolled out its latest homegrown weapon, a guided-missile destroyer called Jamaran. The new ship is equipped with anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes and naval cannons.

Laser Scores Success
(Edwards Air Force Base)
The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile Thursday night.

Vane: Army to Take Unmanned Systems ICD To JROC
(Inside the Army)
Lieutenant General Michael Vane, director of TRADOC’s Army Capabilities Integration Center, said during an unmanned systems conference in Washington that the ICD -- a requirements document for robotics -- contains both ground and air systems.

Lockheed Martin Conducts Successful PAC-3 MSE Intercept Flight Test
(CNNMoney.com)
Lockheed Martin's enhanced version of the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), successfully intercepted a threat representative tactical ballistic missile target yesterday at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

 Biden: Better Conventional Arms Will Allow Nuclear Drawdown
(Department of Defense)
Biden noted that the Quadrennial Defense Review and the Ballistic Missile Defense Review, which Gates released two weeks ago, call for further strengthening of the military’s preeminent conventional forces with capabilities such as an adaptive missile defense shield and conventional warheads that have worldwide reach.

2-44 ADA Soldiers Freshen Up on Skills at Fort Campbell
(The Leaf Chronicle)
The Soldiers trained on a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun, the first time as a unit since 2006. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Nguyen said he and his men have been more involved with convoy security and detainee operations, and not the "bread and butter" of what the 2-44 is trained for – Air Defense. Follow-on article ...

Thursday
18 February 2010

Impending Explosion: U.S. Intensifies Threats to Russia and Iran
(Australia.to)
The rapid pace of the escalation - almost daily reports of missile shield expansion in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Persian Gulf and Turkey; heightened and progressively more bellicose words and actions directed against Iran - is occurring at a breakneck and almost dizzying speed, drawing in larger and larger tracts of Europe and Asia.

Turkey Clears Way for
MBDA Missile Bid
(UPI.com)
The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), currently being tested by the German armed forces is becoming more expensive than expected. MEADS is developed to replace the aging Patriot and Nike Hercules missile systems through a NATO-managed development.

US Could Attack Iran – Russia's General Staff
(RT)
Concerning the deployment of the US Patriot Air Defense System in Poland said Chief of Russia’s General Staff General Nikolay Makarov said: “It isn’t directed against Iran. We understand against whom it is directed.”

South Korea Said Ready to Discuss Ballistic Missile Defense with US
(Global Security Newswire)
South Korea is open to the possibility of participating in a US program for regional ballistic missile defense.

Harris Corporation Awarded $25M Contract
(Orlando Business Journal)
The contract is awarded to a team led by Northrop Grumman to provide high-band networking radios that will be used as part of the U.S. Army’s new Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.

Russia to Deploy Additional
Air Defenses
(Global Security Newswire)
Russia plans to equip two additional military regiments with its S-400 Triumph air-defense system in 2010. "They will be based, primarily, in the Moscow region," said Vadim Volkovitsky the Russian Air Force Chief of Staff.

Huneed CEO Arrested for Military Corruption
(Korea Times)
The Huneed-Boeing team who competed for and won a $300-billion deal to build an air and missile defense-cell (AMD-Cell) aimed at monitoring, tracking and ...

Turkey Rebuffed Obama on Missile Defense Shield
(World Tribune)
Turkish sources said Prime Minister Erdogan has ruled out the prospect that Ankara would host missile defense systems to intercept an Iranian attack. However, Turkey has requested the PAC-3 missile defense system from the United States in a deal worth $7.8 billion saying that any Turkish missile defense system would not be meant against Iran.

“Strike Fear” Battalion to Conduct Avenger Missile System Live Fire Training
(Clarksville Online)
Soldiers with 2-44 ADA, 101st Sustainment Brigade, are preparing for their Avenger Gunnery Certification Training and in addition to the live fire exercise, the Soldiers will also train on their various support duties, including cooks, medics and communication support teams conducting their field exercises.

Russia Says Nuclear Arms Treaty Threatened
(UPI)
Russia's top military commander says a US proposal to deploy a missile defense system in Eastern Europe remains a threat to arms control treaty.

Missile Defense Not a Threat to US-Russia "Reset"
(Reuters)
The United States has a long way to go before Russia overcomes deeply entrenched skepticism of its missile defense plans, but that does not threaten efforts to "reset" relations, a Pentagon official said.

Wednesday
17 February2010

Stage Set for New Fight
Over Missile Defense
(Foreign Policy)
The U.S.-Russian negotiations over updating the expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty were supposed to be separate from issues of American missile defenses in Europe, agreed to in July. Since then, Russian officials have explicitly linked U.S. missile defense plans to the treaty.

Russia Flexes Military Muscle Over Proposed U.S. Missile Shield
(FOXNews)
Russia recently embarked on a campaign of military muscle flexing. It regarded America's missile defense plans in Europe as a threat, and threats must be countered with shows of strength.

VIDEO: Ballistic Missile
Destroyed by Laser
(Tom's Guide)
Planes are awesome. Jumbo jets are even better and jumbo jets with laser attachments are better still, because they can shoot missiles out of the sky. Last week, the US Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB) took out a test missile over the Pacific Ocean.

Russia to Emphasize Nuclear Deterrence, Air Defense
(Xinhua)
Russia would give priority to nuclear deterrence, space and air defense in its military reforms, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

Russia Delays Arms Delivery to Iran
(Voice of America)
Russia is delaying delivery of its S-300 air-defense system to Iran and is also calling for Tehran to adhere to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines.

Russia Seeks to Deploy S-400 Air Defense Systems in CIS
(Information-Analytic
Agency NEWS.am)
Even if Russia intends to deploy air defense systems in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) states, most likely it refers to Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members, as other countries will hardly give their consent.

Three Indian Teams Unveil Mine Protected Vehicles, Anticipating a Growing
(Defense Update)
In addition to the MPV, Tata is also offering a 8x8 wheeled Weapon Platform, designed to accommodate heavy loads such as air defense systems, rockets or artillery guns, surveillance equipment, communications shelters etc.

Bulgaria Top Diplomat: No Official Talk on US Defense Shield
(Novinite.com)
Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, rejected reports that Bulgaria is holding official talks about adopting elements of the planned US missile defense shield. “At this stage we had not entered any talk about what exactly is going to be deployed on Bulgarian territory. It is too early for such discussions since it is not even clear what exactly the system would look like,” Mladenov said on Wednesday.

Tuesday
16 February2010

Rand: Iraqi Military Still Not Ready for Primetime
(World Tribune)
Despite nearly seven years of efforts, Iraq's military remains largely ill-trained and unbalanced, a report said. The report said the army still lacks artillery, aircraft or air defense systems.

The US, Iran, and the Nuclear Dilemma: A Conversation with Jonathan Schell
(Huffington Post – Blog)
The recent US missile defense push in the Persian Gulf to counter the perceived nuclear threat from Iran raises sensitive questions about our policies.

Lockheed Finishes First Phase of Testing Missile-Warning Satellite
(CanadianBusiness.com)
The device is designed to detect missile launches and support other functions including missile defense. Lockheed is the main contractor, and Northrop Grumman is a subcontractor.

Anti-Missile Initiative Edges Forward Slowly
(Aviation Week)
NATO members appear ready to approve deployment of a territorial ballistic missile defense (BMD) network in Europe, although the scope of the European contribution is uncertain.

Laser-Bearing Jumbo Jet Shoots Down Its First Missile
(Discover Magazine - Blog)
Success! The video below shows a US military test off the California, in which a modified Boeing 747 carrying a laser used it to shoot down a test missile; it was the first time a laser weapon has destroyed a missile in its booster stage.

Radio Issues Delay S-300 Deliveries
(UPI)
A fault in the command-and-control system on the S-300 missile defense system is causing delays in deliveries to Iran, Russian officials said.

In Moscow, Netanyahu Presses for Iran Sanctions with Teeth
(Christian Science Monitor)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won assurances Monday that Russia will will 'hold off' on supplying Iran with advanced S-300 air defense missiles, but unlikely they (Russia) will back sanctions against Iran.

Bulgaria to Talk With US About Missile Defense
(Global Security Newswire/NTI)
Bulgaria intends to discuss with the United States the possibility of housing elements of the Obama administration's planned European missile defense system, Reuters reported.

Russia Hits Latin American Trail as US Remains Mute on Missile Defense
(RT)
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said, “… when we have an agreement on transparency and we learn from media outlets that certain elements of US missile defense will be deployed in this or that country, we wonder how this matches the reached agreements.”

Bulgaria Ex PM: Cabinet Never Discussed US Defense Shield
(Novinite.com)
Bulgaria's former Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party (BSP), Sergey Stanishev, declared his cabinet never held any talks about Bulgaria adopting elements of the planned US missile defense shield.

Bulgaria's Part in US Missile Shield Hangs in the Air
(Novinite.com)
The US Ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick, confirmed that there have been no formal discussions on the issue of Bulgaria hosting elements of the missile shield; however, the possibility of Bulgaria joining the US missile defense in Europe, is still all very much “up in the air.”

US Wants Dialogue Not
War with Iran
(euronews)
Secretary of State Clinton has denied the United States plans a military attack on Iran, insisting that Washington wants dialogue with the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile in Moscow, Israel has repeatedly asked Russia to backtrack on a contract to sell an air defense system to Teheran.

 Star Wars Boosters
Fired Up By Laser Show
(TIME)
A specially outfitted 747 used an onboard laser beam last week to shoot down a missile for the first time. It was, perhaps just as significantly, a flying military-industrial complex all by itself.

Turkey Set for Israeli UAVs,
Nixes Arrow 2 Missile
(Globes)
The coldness in Israeli-Turkish relations is also reflected in Turkey’s recent decision to drop Israel’s Arrow 2 Anti-Ballistic Missile System from its list of options for a new missile defense system.

Monday
15 February 2010

Russia Questions Missile Shield Plan
(The Epoch Times)
Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has demanded an explanation from Bulgaria on the country's willingness to join a U.S. missile defense system.

Military Seeks an Intelligence-Gathering Airship
(Washington Post)
The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Army Forces Strategic Command are continuing their multiyear search for a futuristic, self-powered intelligence-gathering airship. The success in Iraq and Afghanistan of "spy blimps" -- now tethered to the ground but gathering intelligence such as full-motion video used to identify insurgents -- has sparked interest in these new airships.

US Airborne Laser Kills Ballistic Missile
(World Tribune)
The United States has used an airborne laser to destroy a ballistic missile in what was termed a missile defense milestone.

US Not to Deploy Missile Defense in Black Sea
(ITAR-TASS)
The United States has no plans to deploy missile defense elements in the Black Sea, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher told foreign journalists on Monday. “The Russians have been consistently advised as to what the phased adapted approach is and what the plans are for the four pieces of the timetable since the announcement was made by President Obama in mid-September,” she said.

Laser Testing
(Seattle Post Intelligencer -- Blog)
Just having lasers sweep the skies would not detect missiles. There are again, two major flaws with ground and air-based missile defense plans: Detection of launch, and non-ballistic launches.

Lasers: What can't they shoot down?
(Nature.com - Subscription Blog)
This video shows US Missile Defense Agency's successful shoot-down of a liquid fuelled ballistic missile with a multi-megawatt chemical laser aboard a Boeing 747. The system is pure simplicity: acquire the target, fire a low-power laser to test and compensate for atmospheric conditions, and then the team fires the giant chemical laser at the boosting missile, heating it until it explodes.

ROAR: Russia Concerned by US “Surprises” in Missile Defense
(RT)
Poland’s lower house of parliament approved an agreement that specifies conditions for the stationing of some 100 US soldiers in the country as part of missile defense shield that include Patriot missiles and Standard Missiles (SM-3).

Clinton Says Iran Becoming a Military Dictatorship
(BusinessWeek)
Secretary of State Clinton, said the U.S. is in talks with its Gulf allies about missile defense systems that would protect them against Iran. The Obama administration sees “a greater potential threat from Iran, from development of its missile program,” or from rogue regimes or terrorists.


Sunday
14 February 2010

Bulgaria Should Dispose Anti-Missile Defense Gratuitously
(Focus News)
Former foreign minister and President of the Atlantic Club, Solomon Passy, said the negotiation process between the U.S. and the Bulgarian government on disposal of anti-missile defense should not turn into a “cheap bargain. This is not a defense of the U.S. but Bulgaria.”

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Hurts Texas Soldiers and the Nation
(Houston Chronicle)
In Texas, 106 people were discharged from Fort Hood alone between 1998 and 2003. Another 43 were discharged from Fort Bliss, and 17 from Fort Sam Houston during that span.

US Airborne Laser Missile an Answer to Iranian, Korean Missiles
(American Breaking
Headline [ABH] News)
The US has yet again, moved a step ahead of its competitor as it marks its victory with its new Airborne Laser. This is a missile which has the ability to downsize the defense of the other countries to point of “non existence”.

Thursday
11 February 2010

Recommitting America to
Missile Defense
(American Thinker)
Security in the 21st century requires a vigorous commitment to a comprehensive missile defense system.

Russian NATO Envoy Says Stance on Missile Defense Has Not Changed
(CNSNews.com)
The U.S. intends to deploy a battery of short-range Patriot missiles in Poland, in a location which Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian NATO Ambassador, noted was “60 km [37 miles] from the Russian borders. And you want us to be idiots who applaud … these plans?” he asked.

U.A.E. Buys Raytheon Missiles
(OfficialWire)
The UAE sales come amid a drive by the US military brass to expand land- and sea-based missile defense systems in and around the Gulf.

Air Defense Artillery Unit Holds Farewell Run Before Returning Home
(DVIDS/Imagery Distribution System)
Company E, 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, hosted its farewell run, at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Appropriately dubbed, "When You Hear the Alert, Hit the Dirt," the run was 3.3 miles in honor of their task force name, TF 3-3 ADA (C-RAM).

Missile Defense Agency Asks Congress for $1 Billion for BMDS Testing
(Inside Defense - Subscription)
The Missile Defense Agency is asking Congress for $1 billion to fund its testing and targets efforts in fiscal year 2011.

The Case For Striking Iran Grows
(Wall Street Journal)
Tehran boasted of making advances in radar-evading drone aircraft. Its ambassador to Moscow said that Russia promised imminent delivery of S-300 air-defense systems that could preclude Israel from attacking Iran's nuclear program.

Wednesday
10 February 2010

What Tomorrow's Iranian “Punch” Might Mean
(World Net Daily)
The Iranian supreme leader's promised "punch" that would stun the world to mark the 31st anniversary of the country's Islamic revolution tomorrow could be the unveiling of an air defense system supplied by Russia, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

AIR DEFENSE: An Israeli Stunner
(Strategy Page)
Israel has developed a new anti-missile missile to deal with long range (up to 200 kilometers) rockets. Their Stunner missile is yet another development of the Israeli  Python heat seeking air-to-air missile. Stunner apparently came out of the work to develop the recent Spyder anti-aircraft missile.

Russia: Missile Defense Delaying Arms Talks, Top General Says
(New York Times)
“Despite official statements that the missile defense system will ensure our security, this is far from the truth,” General Nikolai Makarov, the chief of Russia's general staff, told Vesti, a television news channel. “It is natural that we view this very negatively, because this to some extent can weaken our missile capability.”

We're All Infidels Now
(Town Hall)
When a liberated survivor of a World War II Nazi death camp was asked (1945) what he had learned from his ordeal, he replied, “when someone says he wants to kill you, believe him.” Just days after President Obama announced the abandonment of former Soviet bloc-based missile defense, Iran conducted a third missile test, showing they could hit Israel, parts of Europe and U.S. bases in the Mideast, and very soon bring about their long-stated ambitions of wiping Israel off the map and bringing about a world without America.

Tuesday
9 February 2010

 American Missile Defense – A Threat to Russia?
(RT)
Washington's revamped missile defense project is once again becoming a major concern for Russian security. Russian military officials say they view the plans to deploy missiles in Central Europe as a direct threat.

Russian Military Calls US Missile Defense a Threat
(The Associated Press)
President Obama drew praise from the Kremlin, after scrapping Bush administration plans for missile defense site designed to shoot down long-range missiles from rogue states such as Iran. Experts say the new plan is less threatening to Russia because it would not initially involve interceptors capable of shooting down Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, General Nikolai Makarov,  chief of the Russian military's General Staff, said that a revised U.S. plan to place missiles in Europe undermines Russia's national defense, rejecting Obama administration promises that the plan is not directed at his country. "We view it very negatively, because it could weaken our missile forces," Makarov said in televised remarks.

A Certain Threat
(World Magazine)
As Iran becomes more defiant, there’s another development on the defense front. While President Obama’s defense budget last year cut $1.4 billion from missile defense programs, this year’s budget restores over half of those cuts—a move that missile defense advocates say is a response to the growing threats represented by Iran and North Korea.

Russia Says Missile Shield Delaying Nuclear Deal
(Washington Post/Reuters)
Russia's top general said on Tuesday that differences with the United States over plans for a missile defense shield were holding up a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the two Cold War foes, Interfax news agency said.

Representative Dicks Steps into Top Defense Panel Position
(The Hill)
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), a veteran appropriator, is next in line by seniority to fill in the chairmanship of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee, left vacant by the death of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.). He will be acting chairman until a formal vote. Boeing, a large employer in his home state, could benefit in the process.

US: Missile Defense Plan Not Impediment to Treaty with Russia
(CCTV)
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that the US missile defense plan in Europe is not an impediment, adding that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had not raised the issue as an obstacle in a recent phone conversation with US counterpart, Barack Obama.

Iran Knows the Location of US Missile Defense Shields in Region
(Tehran Times)
Iran is fully aware of the locations of the US missile defense shields in the region, Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani said on Tuesday. He went on to say that the establishment of the missile shields is part of the plan to promote Iranophobia among regional nations, adding that the U.S. is seeking to undermine the unity of the Islamic ummah (community).

Dispute over Iran's Nuclear Activities Could Result in Military Conflict
(RT)
The dispute over Iran's nuclear activities, which Western countries fear are aimed at creating weapons, might result in a military conflict, Russia's security chief Nikolay Patrushev said on Tuesday.

Monday
8 February 2010

Muslim Expert Taught Fort Bliss Soldiers about Islam
(KVIA-TV)
An experienced military trainer who taught U.S. Army soldiers about his Muslim faith has been suspended from working on military bases pending a continuing criminal inquiry, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.

U.S. Torn Over Whether Some Islamists Offer Insight or Pose Threat
(Dallas Morning News)
Major Nidal Malik Hasan wasn't the only person with links to radical Islamist employed on a Texas base on that fateful day. At Fort Bliss, Louay Safi, an experienced military trainer, was teaching soldiers about his Muslim faith, and he too, had denounced government counterterrorism efforts, and public records show he and some of his closest associates had ties to terrorism suspects. The Safi affair reveals the deep divisions within the U.S. government over how to combat terrorism and over what constitutes moderate Islam.

Arms Deal Chills US-China Ties
(The Japan Times)
As expected, the $6.4 billion arms deal for Taiwan that Washington announced Jan. 29 has caused the temperature of the already chilly U.S-China relationship to plummet.

Iran Boasts of Plans to Build 10 New Nuclear Fuel Plants and Deploy Missile Defense System
(ChattahBox)
As it faces domestic political discord and stepped up international talk of tightening economic sanctions, Iran’s power elite continue to beat the drums of military advances. Commander Heshmatollah Kassiri, gave more details by saying that a new domestically-made air defense system will be unveiled by the country’s experts and scientists which is as powerful as the S-300 system, or even stronger, according to IRNA.

Religiously Opposing Missile Defense
(American Spectator)
The Heritage Foundation has produced a new film touting America's need for missile defense against terrorists and rogue states called "33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age." A scoffing researcher at the liberal Center for American Progress told Politico that the film failed to show that "any such attack was remotely likely."

Sunday
7 February 2010

Romania's Joining Missile Defense System Tests US-Russia Ties
(Xinhua)
Analysts say the Romanian decision came at a crucial moment when Washington and Moscow are about to sign a successor document to the expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1). Therefore, the move may upset the thawing Russia-U.S. relations and put their bilateral ties to test.

India Agni-III Missile Test Successful
(UPI)
India has successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile, defense sources say.

US Insistent on Missile System in Turkey, Not More Afghan Troops
(World Bulletin)
The dialogue on what Turkey could do within NATO to counter the proliferation of ballistic missiles via a missile defense system continues. We have discussed the possibility of erecting two radars in Turkey, Gates said. Reminded by a journalist that there were actually countries in the region that possessed nuclear weapons, aside from Iran, like Israel, Secretary Gates argued, that Iran was "a country that openly announced a will to destroy another country" and violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Saturday
6 February 2010

Moscow 'Concerned' by US-Romania Missile Shield Deal
(Space Daily)
The United States in September shelved a plan to place missile defense facilities in the Czech Republic and Poland, after strong protests from Russia.

Gates Scoffs at Iran Nuclear Claim
(New York Times)
Defense Secretary Gates said, at the conclusion of talks with Turkish leaders in Ankara, that actions by Iranian leaders did not back up their conciliatory public statements. As if to press that point, one topic on the agenda was how Turkey might join a NATO-wide missile defense system, which would be focused on the possibility of an attack from Iran.

Iran Opens Production Lines for Two New Missiles: Report
(Xinhua)
Iran opened its production lines for two new missiles -- the Toofan 5 anti-armor missile and the Qaem anti-helicopter missile -- on Saturday, the Fars news agency reported.

Romania: US Expands Missile Shield into Black Sea
(Center for Research on Globalization)
In a translation of Romanian President Basescu’s comments, the New York Times confirmed that the Romanian head of state pledged that his nation “was prepared to negotiate with the United States to accept ground-based interceptors as part of an antiballistic missile defense system. He said it could be working by 2015.”

AIR DEFENSE: A Big Expensive Bust(Strategy Page)
A $150 million test of the American GBI (Ground Based Interceptor) failed when the floating radar system failed (in unspecified ways).

Friday
5 February 2010

ROAR: Missiles In Romania “May Influence Russia-US Reset"
(RT)
Analysts are wary and skeptical of the first step in building “a new architecture of missile defense” that Washington is making in Romania.

Air Force Contracts for Patriot Upgrades
(UPI.com)
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon a follow-on contract to upgrade Patriot missile technologies as part of an ongoing missile refreshment program. Under the $58.2 million deal, Raytheon will upgrade 124 of its Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles to the next-generation Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical configuration.

Russian Congressmen Irked by Planned US Missile Shield in Romania
(Xinhua)
Moscow is worried about the US plans to deploy missile defense elements in Romania, some senior members of the Russian parliament said Friday.

Russia Expresses Dismay on Romanian Role in Missile Shield
(New York Times)
 Russian officials reacted coolly on Friday to the news that Romania had agreed to host American missile interceptors starting in 2015, with a top envoy saying that the announcement could directly affect Moscow’s position as negotiations to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or Start, reach their conclusion.

European Manufacturer to Enter Turkish Missile Tender
(Today's Zaman)
The French and Italian consortium Eurosam has decided to bid in Turkey’s multibillion-dollar long-range missile tender.

Thursday
4 February 2010

Ahmadinejad's Ark, and Why Boeing Must Stop It
(Motley Fool)
On Wednesday, Iran announced the successful launch of a Kavoshgar-3 "research rocket" into space, tagging along for the ride -- a mouse, two turtles, and a whole passel of ... worms.

Romania Says It Is Joining Missile Shield
(New York Times)
Romania’s top defense body approved an American proposal to base missile interceptors there, the country’s president said Thursday in a hastily arranged announcement. While the participation of Poland and the Czech Republic in the missile shield had been well known, the possibility that Romania would join them was not.

South Korea Refutes US Claims of Joint Missile Defense Plan
(Global Security Newswire/NTI)
South Korea yesterday disputed the claim made in a new report from the United States that it was considering taking part in a U.S.-led ballistic missile defense system.

Iran Says US Defense Missiles Easily Defeated
(Voice of America)
Iran's top military official is quoted as saying the Patriot missiles can be made ineffective through simple tactics.

U.S. to Urge NATO Focus on Afghanistan, Missile Defense
(Hurriyet Daily News)
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will urge European allies at a meeting in Turkey to inject more funding into NATO with a focus on Afghanistan and priorities such as missile defense, officials said.

Romania Agrees to Host US Missile Interceptors
(RTT News)
Romania has agreed to host missile interceptors as part of a revamped US plan to build a missile defense shield in three European countries.

Experts Provide Insights on Strategic Reports
(DoD-News)
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Forces, said the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) which is conducted every four year, lays out a strategy to rebalance Defense Department capabilities and structure. The analysis does not make any suggestions that would hamper the ability to prevail in today's conflicts but, does provide a 15-to-20-year outlook with far-ranging objectives.

Wednesday
3 February 2010

US Seeks Calm as China Fumes(Reuters)
The Pentagon's 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review Report to Congress, published on Monday, said the United States was concerned and closely monitoring China's missile buildup and increasingly advanced capabilities in the Pacific region.

FORSCOM Recognizes 69th ADA Culinary Team for Excellence in Food Service
(DVIDS)
A team of hard-charging food service Soldiers from Fort Hood's (Texas) 69th ADA Brigade is certainly no exception to excellence when it comes ... A team of hard-charging food service Soldiers from Fort Hood's own 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade brought “excellence” to the table, when it comes to serving food during the 42nd annual Armywide Phillip A. Connelly Competition for Excellence in Food Service.

US Missile Push in Persian Gulf is Labeled 'Iran-Phobia'
(Dallas Morning News)
Iran responded angrily Tuesday to US moves to expand land- and sea-based missile defense systems in and around the Persian Gulf.

Ex-POW in Iraq War Recalls Nightmares, Depression
(Washington Post)
Shoshana Johnson survived as an Iraqi prisoner of war for 22 days, but life wasn't so easy when she came home, either. In a new book out this week, the 37-year-old single mother describes her ordeal and mental health problems related to her captivity.

Done with Iran(WatertownDailyTimes.com/Opinion)
 Arab allies in the region have bought Patriot anti-missile batteries and air- and missile-defense radars. As one senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal, "President Ahmadinejad has been the best recruiting officer for U.S. Central Command in the Gulf region."

Heritage Foundation Film About Missile Defense Set to Screen in Massachusetts
(The Cypress Times)
In 33 minutes or less, American life as we know it could be forever altered. That's the time it would take a ballistic missile from North Korea or any other foreign foe to strike New York, Los Angeles, Boston or another major U.S. city.

Lockheed Martin Names Mathew Joyce Vice President and Program Manager for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
(PR Newswire - Press Release)
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company announced today that it has named Mathew "Mat" J. Joyce vice president and program manager for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD).  “Mat brings a proven track record in leading outstanding missile defense and strategic weapon system programs," said retired Major Gen. John W. Holly, vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Joyce contributes extraordinary expertise in all aspects of development, production, testing, and operations and sustainment as we prepare to bid for the Missile Defense Agency's GMD Development and Sustainment Contract.

Tuesday
2 February 2010

US Seeks Calm as China Fumes
(Reuters)
The Pentagon's 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review Report to Congress, published on Monday, said the United States was concerned and closely monitoring China's missile buildup and increasingly advanced capabilities in the Pacific region.

China Warns Obama
Over Dalai Lama
(Aljazeera.net)
China has warned President Barack Obama, not to meet the Dalai Lama, saying any meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could further harm already-strained relations between the two countries. This comes amid a growing row over recently announced sales of US arms to Taiwan. The government (China) has not said what sanctions it might impose to penalize the companies involved in building arms for Taiwan, but the roster of potential targets is predominantly American defense contractors, including Boeing (Harpoon Block II Missiles), Lockheed Martin (263 PAC-3 air defense missiles) and Raytheon (Patriot Air and Missile Defense System).

Missile Interceptor Fails
in Mock Attack
(BioPrepWatch.com)
A malfunction in radar caused a U.S. attempt to shoot down a missile mimicking an Iranian attack to fail, the Defense Department announced. The Pentagon released a review of ballistic missile defense on Monday, which revealed that Iran had developed and acquired ballistic missiles that had the capability to strike targets from the Middle East to Eastern Europe. This was the first time that a test of the United States' long-range defense against a simulated Iranian attack has been performed, though similar tests have been done involving North Korean missiles.

Russian Arms Exports: Camouflage for an ailing Defense Industry?
(The Faster Times)
Global demand for Russia’s defense products in select areas such as air-defense systems indicates that the Russian defense industry still exudes life. Former Soviet arms clients such as Algeria, Syria and Vietnam have been tapped, new clients in Malaysia and Venezuela have been cultivated, and the Kremlin has shrewdly used the implied delivery of its S-300 air-defense system to Iran to try and pry more money for the same platform out of the Saudis.

Chairman's Corner: Breaking Down the Budget
(DoD Live -- Blog)
This week, Secretary Gates and I (Admiral Mullen) announced the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the President’s FY2011 Defense budget submission, both of which build upon the reform effort of last year and represent as comprehensive a look at the state of our military as I have seen in my more than forty years of service.

Iran Blasts US Defensive
Missiles Plan for Gulf
(AP/Bartlesville Live)
Iran is dismissing U.S. moves to increase the defensive missiles system in Gulf Arab countries against potential strikes by Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that Iran considers the U.S. plan "inefficient."

Four Combat Brigades to
Stay in Europe
(Stars and Stripes)
The brigades will remain in Europe pending a DoD review of NATO’s Strategic Concept and an accompanying assessment of its European defense posture network, the QDR states. The QDR also called for the deployment of a revised US missile defense system in Europe and an enhanced naval presence in the region.

Just for Fun:  Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Defense Spending Cuts
(The Motley Fool)
Believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, magical unicorns, and leprechauns with pots o' gold? If so, then you probably also … well, at least are open to the possibility that President Obama has his heart set on gutting the U.S. defense budget. Problem is, just like the mythical creatures listed above, the threat to defense spending is a total myth.

 Ducommun to Support
Patriot Program
(UPI.com)
US defense contractor Raytheon has selected Ducommun to support the Patriot Air and Missile Defense program with its electromechanical technologies.

Defense Chief Continues Push to 'Rebalance' US Military Forces
(GovExec.com)
"I have made defending against near-term regional threats a top priority of our missile defense programs and plans,” Gates said in the review. The BMDR said the nation is protected against "limited ICBM attack" and should be safe against the emerging threat from Iran and North Korea "for the foreseeable future."

Iranian Lawmaker Scorns US Missile Defense Deployments
(Global Security News/NTI)
Iran's top lawmaker accused the United States today of seeking to tighten its military grip on the Middle East by bolstering missile defenses in neighboring states, the Associated Press reported. One Iranian analyst warned, though, that the U.S. missile defense deployments could increase the likelihood of aggression by Tehran against other Middle Eastern nations.

 MDA Budget Continues Aegis,
THAAD Focus
(Aviation Week)
MDA’s main focus remains on blocking threats from short- and medium-range ballistic missiles through the PAA implementation in Europe. Accordingly, the Fiscal 2011 request includes $859 million for the purchase of Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries. Another $1.6 billion is set aside for the Aegis ship-based defense system, including research and development and testing.

Iran Criticizes US Missile
Deployments in Gulf
(Reuters)
Iran accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to stoke "Iran phobia" in the Middle East by deploying missile defense systems in the Gulf.

Monday
1 February 2010

Giant Seagoing Golf Ball
Fingered as Culprit
(The Register-Science)
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has announced a failed test of its controversial Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptor. The agency blamed the test failure on problems with the Sea Based X-Band radar, well known for its resemblance to an enormous golf ball mounted on an oil rig.

Missile Defense Test Flops as US Unveils New Strategy
(Wired News)
Over the weekend, the Missile Defense Agency released news of another failed intercept test. And no, the interceptor didn’t fail to lift off or fly off course. This time it was the tracking radar, a Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) radar, that wasn’t up to scratch.

US Fails to Hit Missile Mimicking Iranian Strike
(Reuters)
The botched $150 million test over the Pacific Ocean coincided with a Pentagon report that Iran had expanded its ballistic missile capabilities and posed a "significant" threat to U.S. and allied forces in the Middle East region.

Obama Announces $548.9-Billion Defense Budget for Fiscal Year 2011
(Xinhua)
The defense budget is expected to provide capital for the government’s reconfigured ballistic missile defense strategy, called the Phased Adaptive Approach. "It will feature incremental deployments of increasingly capable sea- and land-based missile interceptors and a range of sensors in Europe to defend against growing ballistic missile dangers," said the bill.

The Gutless Missile Defense Policy
(Washington Times/Opinion -- Michael R. Turner)
In sharp contrast to the previous administration, the President Barack Obama made sweeping changes to the previous administration’s national missile defense portfolio, slashing the MDA budget, reducing the number of missile interceptors in Alaska (intended to protect the U.S. homeland), cut nearly all investments in future capabilities, and dramatically changed missile defense plans for Europe. Yet it appears the new administration is now quietly shifting its missile defense policy.

Too Big To Fail?
(Slate)
President Obama has proposed the largest defense budget since World War II. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is requesting another $10 billion on missile defense (a billion more than last year).

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), Don't Hold Your Breath
(Slate)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, made history when he told the Senate Armed Services Committee that not only does the President support the repeal of the DADT policy but that Mullen himself supports the repeal as well. "For me, personally, it comes down to integrity—theirs as individuals and ours as an institution," said Mullen.

FACTBOX-Pentagon Spending on Major Weapons Programs
(Reuters)
The Pentagon also would spend $9.9 billion on ballistic missile defense programs, up from $9.2 billion. The funding includes $1.56 billion for Lockheed's Aegis missile defense system, $1.3 billion for the company's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system and $1.3 billion on a ground-based midcourse defense program run by Boeing.

Missile Defense Review Links Strategy to Threats
(DoD/Armed Forces Press Service)
The Ballistic Missile Defense Review released today aligns U.S. missile defense posture with near-term regional missile threats, and sustains the ability to defend the homeland against limited long-range missile attack.

Missile Defense Deployments Ramped-Up Around Iran
(Global Security Newswire/NTI)
The additional missiles defenses included “eight Patriot missile batteries, two in each of four countries,” said U.S. Central Commander General David Petraeus. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to accept missile defense equipment, according to military officials; Israel and Saudi Arabia already possessed defensive systems of a similar nature. Patriot systems would be used against short-range missiles.

LYONS: Halt START Negotiations
(Washington Times)
China for years has strongly opposed U.S. missile-defense initiatives as well as weapons in space. In China's cynical quest for power, it recently demonstrated its own missile-defense capability along with an anti-satellite-intercept capability.

US Defies Chinese Communists
(AllGov)
Twenty-one years ago the United States and Taiwan agreed to the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which states that the US will supply Taiwan with arms to defend itself against a attack from mainland China. On January 29, 2010, the United States approved a $6.4 billion sale of military defense equipment to Taiwan that included Black Hawk helicopters and Patriot Missiles. The move is comparable to former President George W. Bush’s arms sale to Taiwan in 2008, featuring Apache helicopters and Patriot PAC-III anti-missile missiles.

Providing for the Common Defense: A Call to Restore Funding to US Missile Defense
(Family Security Matters)
 Since last spring, the White House has cut some $1.4 billion from programs within the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. In doing so, it has terminated a number of promising programs, among them the Airborne Laser, the Multiple Kill Vehicle and Kinetic Energy Interceptor.