BrahMos set to become a “Super Rocket”

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is all set to become a “super rocket” soon, which would beef up India’s tactical defence capability significantly. However, the test launches of the air variant of the BrahMos II hyper-sonic missile, which were supposed to be completed by 2012, are experiencing delays. The realistic date for completion of these tests is now believed to be 2015.

 Sources in the Indian strategic establishment said India has upgraded its BrahMos missiles by “wedding” these with Russia’s advanced satellite navigation systems. The “marriage” of the BrahMos’s navigation systems with Russia's Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missiles has made BrahMos a “super rocket”. The word “rocket” here is used in context of a weapon, not a space rocket.

The new avatar of BrahMos will have to undergo tests and field trials before it becomes operational with the Indian defence services. However, this would not take unduly long.

The improved version of BrahMos will be endowed with a sub-strategic capability and would increase its tactical range too. The new version would also be capable of carrying nuclear warheads and can be launched from sea, land and air, like the old version. Its range of hitting targets would now be over 180-300 miles (300-500 km).

The new air-launched version of BrahMos will be carried by Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The Indian Air Force is set to be a far more potent force by 2020 when it is scheduled to deploy 200 advanced Sukhoi fighters, equipped with the new version of BrahMos “super rockets.” This will be a lethal combination and will make the Sukhois strategic bombers.

Another important feature of the upgraded BrahMos missile is that it has added GPS-GLONASS technology to it. This is of vital strategic importance as GLONASS, Russia’s navigation service provider, gives India access to military signals, while the American GPS does not.

BrahMos missile is jointly developed by India and Russia and is named after two major rivers – Brahmaputra of India and Muscova of Russia. The missile is capable of flying at a very high speed at tree-top levels which adds to its tactical utility.

BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. BrahMos is the first supersonic cruise missile known to be in service and is deployed on INS Rajput since 2005. The missile has 'fire and forget' principle, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target. Its destructive power is enhanced due to large kinetic energy on impact. Its cruising altitude could be up to 15 km (9.3 miles) and terminal altitude is as low as 10 meters.

Compared to existing state-of-the-art subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos has three times more velocity, 2.5 to 3 times more flight range, 3 to 4 times more seeker range and 9 times more kinetic energy. The missile has identical configuration for land, sea and sub-sea platforms and uses a Transport Launch Canister (TLC) for transportation, storage and launch. The missile is universal for multiple platforms and can pin point accuracy with high lethal power aided by large kinetic energy on impact. It has shorter flight times leading to lower target dispersion and quicker engagement.

 So far India has deployed BrahMos missile in the western sector only against Pakistan. However, since the missile is fitted on a mobile launcher it can be transported anywhere in the country and deployed within a short time. The Indian Army is planning to deploy it against China as well in near future. India started a massive war preparedness drill in Arunachal Pradesh in the north-eastern sector codenamed “Pralaya” on February 29, 2012.

BrahMos is a stealth supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is about three-and-a-half times faster than the USA's subsonic Harpoon cruise missile and three times faster than USA's subsonic Tomahawk missile. India has also planned an air-launched variant which is expected to come out in 2012 and will make India the only country with supersonic missiles in all the defence forces. However, the 2012 deadline is unlikely to be met.

A hypersonic version of the missile, which is also presently under development with speed of Mach 7 to boost aerial fast strike capability, is expected to be ready by 2016. BrahMos has the capability of attacking surface targets by flying as low as 10 meters.

The air launch version and the submarine launch version of the missile system are in progress. The Indian Army has so far placed orders for the BrahMos missile to be deployed by three regiments of the Army and two of them have already been inducted operationally. A hypersonic version of the missile, which is also presently under development with speed of Mach 7 to boost aerial fast strike capability, is expected to be ready by 2016.

The army and navy versions of the BrahMos missile weigh three tons or more. The missile is also available for exports whosoever is interested in it as long as they are ready to shell out about $2-3 million apiece. The cost depends on the version. The BrahMos has been developed as a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia under BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

FIRST FULL FIRING OF MBDA’S MdCN MISSILE IS A SUCCESS

The French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has carried out the first full firing of the MdCN naval cruise missile. The test, which took place on 9th July 2012 at the “DGA Essais de missiles” test centre in Biscarosse, was representative of a firing from a frigate. All the objectives were achieved, notably the validation of the missile’s terminal phase with its autonomous guidance using infrared scene recognition. This guidance mode permits the missile to strike targets with an exceptional degree of precision. MdCN will equip the European FREMM multi-mission frigates as of 2014 and the Barracuda submarines in around 2017. Benefiting from a range of several hundred kilometres, MdCN is intended for the carrying out of deep strikes within enemy territory. It complements the air-launched SCALP cruise missile from which it is derived. Carried on combat vessels positioned at a safe distance and for extended periods within international waters, overtly (frigates) or covertly (submarines), MdCN is ideally suited for the destruction of high strategic value infrastructure targets. The DGA notified MBDA of the MdCN contract at the end of 2006.

Work on submarine launched BrahMos in final stages

The work on launch of submarine variant of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was in the final stages, a top official of the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace said today.

"Yes we are on the job and it is in the final stages," BrahMos Aerospace CEO and MD Dr A Sivathanu Pillai told reporters here when asked about the submarine launched-missile.

Sea and ground-launched versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy. The flight tests of the airborne version will be completed by the end of 2012.

Pillai said the Hypersonic version of Brahmos-2 cruise missile will be ready for launch in another five years.

With the research on propulsion of scramjet underway, the hypersonic missile, with four times speed that the present Supersonic missile, would be ready for induction into Indian forces by 2017.

With a 300 million Dollars investment, the company, a Indo-Russian joint venture, was doing a business of five billion dollars at present, he said.

However, he said the company would think of large scale exports only after meeting the requirements of Indian armed forces.

First full sequence test of French Navy's future Naval Cruise Missile (SCALP Naval) a Success

This was the third development test firing of the missile, conducted at the DGA site of Biscarrosse (South West France) where the "DGA missile test center" is located. This test is representative of a shot from a frigate. All objectives were met, including the validation of the terminal phase with autonomous guidance by infrared scene recognition, which provides highly accurate impacts. SCALP Naval cruise missiles will be deployed onboard multi-mission frigates (FREMM) in 2014 and Barracuda SSN submarines in 2017.

                         

French Procurement Agency (DGA) on July 9, 2012 successfully completed the first full sequence test (from launch to target) of a SCALP Naval, French Navy's future naval cruise missile.

                         

With a range of several hundred kilometers, SCALP Naval is intended to strike targets in the depth of enemy territory. It is complementary to the Airborne Scalp cruise missile form which it is derived. Deployed on warships positioned off enemy coasts in international waters, ostensibly (frigates) or discretely (submarines), SCALP Naval is the perfect weapon when the mission involves destruction of high strategic value targets.

6,000 Tomahawks Later

The U.S. Navy has ordered another 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles for its ships and submarines. The navy continues to use Tomahawks in combat on a regular bases. Most of these uses are publicized, but some are not. Several hundred Tomahawks were used against Libya last year. The Tomahawk was introduced 29 years ago and over 6,000 have been manufactured so far. U.S. Navy has fired over 2,000 in combat and over 500 for training and testing. The U.S. Navy has over 3,000 Tomahawks on its warships or in storage.

The current Tomahawk, the RGM-109E Block 4 Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile weighs 1.2 tons, is six meters (18 feet) long, has a range of 1,600 kilometers, getting there at a speed of 600-900 kilometers an hour, flying at an altitude of 17-32 meters (50-100 feet), and propelled by a jet engine generating only 600 pounds of thrust. Accuracy is on a par with JDAM (10 meters/31 feet). The Block 4 Tomahawk can be reprogrammed in flight to hit another target and carries a vidcam to allow a missile to check on prospective targets.

The Block 4s were recently upgraded so that they can hit moving targets. This is mainly intended to turn the Tomahawk into an anti-ship missile, although it can also hit moving land targets. The Tomahawk has been a primary land attack weapon for surface ships and submarines since the 1990s. The Block 3 entered service in 1994, but the Block 4 was a big upgrade a decade later, adding GPS and the ability to go after a different target while the missile was in flight.

The United States is developing a successor to the Tomahawk cruise missile that will be heavier (2.2 tons), have a longer range (2,000 kilometers), and a larger (one ton) warhead. The new missile will be stealthier and use a combination of guidance and targeting systems (to improve the chances of success). Price will probably be the key factor in whether this new missile ever enters service. The new Cruise Missile XR (for Extended Range) will probably cost at least twice as much as the current Tomahawk.

The cruise missile, when it showed up in the 1980s, was one of the first UAVs, it just wasn't reusable. But UAVs that carry bombs and missiles and can be reused are going to provide competition for a new, $3 million, Cruise Missile XR.

Eyeballing Iran? US commissions 361 cruise missiles

US Navy to get 361 new Tomahawk cruise missiles, most of which are meant for Fifth Fleet destroyers based in Bahrain. Meanwhile, pressure to mount military strike against Tehran is permeating presidential campaign

The United States has commissioned 361 new Tomahawk cruise missiles, and some 238 of them are meant to find their way to the Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain, Ynet learned on Sunday.

According to the SW Insider, the deal – inked on the backdrop of repeated deadlocks in the nuclear negotiations between the West and Iran – may suggest that the US is gearing for a possible military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

US defense contractor Raytheon won the deal, for a reported $331 million.

According to the report, the deal – which follows repeated statements by both Israel and the US that "all options are on the table," and in view of Iran's recent naval maneuvers and military exercises – is another sign that "all sides are getting ready for the possibility of military conflict."

The missiles commissioned, the report added, "Will be designed to launch from submarines and the remainder from Navy ships currently operating with the Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain east of Iran." 

 Similar missiles were used by the US against Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya.

 Additionally, the US Navy has commissioned 17,000 advanced submarine detection systems, for a reported $13 million.

'Time to act'

Meanwhile, Washington is still trying to devise diplomatic ways to stem Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities.

Dennis Ross, who served as a special advisor on Iran on the National Security Council, said that the only way to get Iran to suspend its nuclear activities is to make it realize that the threat of war is real. He further suggested "calling Iran's bluff" by offering Tehran civilian nuclear capabilities.

Former Secretary of State James Baker said that should nothing change and Iran does, within one year's time, reach nuclear capabilities, then the US should be the one to lead a strike against it, because it has the necessary force to end Tehran's nuclear program.

The pressure on US President Barack Obama to present a viable military option against Iran is growing, as 44 senators – Democrats and Republicans – demanded the he set clear preconditions for continuing the nuclear talks.

The pressure to mount a military strike is also permeating the presidential campaign: The Emergency Committee for Israel, a neo-conservative organization headed by Weekly Standard editor William Kristol, aired a special spot in Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – key states in the presidential elections – urging Obama to strike Iran.

"President Obama has spent four years talking – Iran has spent four year building a secret nuclear site," the video says. "Obama is still talking and Iran has enough fuel for five nuclear bombs. Talking isn’t working – it's time to act."

Chinese military steps up conventional missile capability

Amid escalation of maritime tensions with neighbours and a US military focus shift to Asia Pacific, Chinese military is stepping up its conventional missile capability, polishing its ability to carry out multiple launches while preserving its strategic nuclear deterrence.

"Conventional missiles are a trump card in modern warfare. So we must be ready at any time. We must be able to deliver a quick response to attacks, hit the targets with high accuracy, and destroy them totally," Tan Weihong, Commander of Second Artillery Force, which handles conventional and nuclear missiles said in a rear interview.

The conventional missile brigade was thrown open to the official English media for the first time after it was established, lifting a veil of mystery.

"The unit first grabbed attention in July 1995, when China announced the PLA would carry out missile tests in the high seas. Six missiles were fired in a week and each successfully hit their target.

"The missions announced to the world that China had both nuclear and conventional missiles, and thereby a strengthened military deterrence system," the state-run China Daily said.

"Before that, China had only nuclear missiles. The Gulf War in 1990 helped the nation's military leaders realise that conventional missiles were playing a bigger role in modern warfare," it said.

China has upgraded its missiles in the past few years several times, the brigade's armament has been updated several times, the Daily report said.

Meanwhile, with the increase of missile launching units over the years, the brigade had to develop a new commanding system to replace the old one that was based on vocal orders.

"The new system can handle multiple launches at the same time, which was impossible in the past," Tan said

Russia Tests New ICBM Capable of Evading Missile Defenses

Russia on Friday test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile that is reportedly capable of evading defenses, as Moscow also commissioned a new early warning radar system, reports said.

The National Journal reported that the first launch of the new missile took place at the Plesetsk launch pad in northern Russia, according to Defense Ministry officials.

The announcement did not give the name of the missile but said it was fired from a mobile launcher.

In recent years Moscow has voiced major concerns about a planned U.S. missile defense shield based in Europe and former Soviet countries that ring Russia's western flank, rejecting Washington's assurances that the shield is only intended to counter any Iranian missile launches.

Russia has also repeated stated it was developing missiles to counter any U.S. shield.

The NATO military alliance has offered to cooperate with Russia on a missile shield but does not want to operate the shield jointly, the National Journal reported.

The Kremlin has said without any cooperation on a missile defense shield and absent U.S. guarantees it would not be directed at Russia, Moscow had threatened to take military countermeasures.

The defense ministry said the mobile missile's practice warhead successfully reached its target on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

"The new ICBM will strengthen the combat capability of the strategic missile forces thanks to its ability to penetrate prospective missile defense systems," the ministry said.

Military officials said they also commissioned a new early warning radar. The Voronezh-M-type facility in Irkutsk is reportedly much more capable than older systems.

Turkey to declare $4 bln decision on air defense

Turkish authorities are gearing up next month to announce their pick for Turkey’s critical Long-Range Air and Missile Defense Systems. Russian, Chinese, American and European companies are in the running. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Eurosam, Rosoboronexport and CP-MİEC are all among the contenders

Turkish authorities are likely to announce their choice for a critical weapons system worth over $4 billion in early July, a senior procurement official said June 8.

The decision is in regards to the Long-Range Air and Missile Defense Systems, or T-Loramids, which American, European, Russian and Chinese companies are vying for.

The committee behind the decision is comprised of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz, Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel, and Murad Bayar, head of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries.

Competitors include U.S. partners Raytheon and Lockheed Martin with their Patriot-based system, Eurosam with its SAMP/T Aster 30, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, which markets the country’s S-300 and S-400 systems, and China’s CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation), offering its HQ-9.

“We definitely expect a decision this time. The program was delayed since 2009,” said a business official. “We should see at least a shortlist of some of the companies.”

Russian and Chinese systems

Many Western officials and experts say the Russian and the Chinese systems are not compatible with NATO systems. Their potential eventual victory might inadvertently provide them with access to classified NATO information, and as a result may compromise NATO’s procedures.

But despite the criticism, Turkey has ruled against expelling the Chinese and Russian options, saying there is no need to exclude them from the Turkish competition.

After selecting a company the committee would then select a national commercial shipyard to manufacture three to eight of the Milgem national corvettes in the $1.5 billion program.

Candidates for the shipyard are RMK Marine, owned by the Koç conglomerate, and Dearsan A.Ş. The first two corvettes were built at a military shipyard. The first corvette, the TCG Heybeliada, has already entered service in the Navy, and the second, the TCG Büyükada, has been sent out to sea for tests.

The Milgem program is Turkey’s first national project for the construction of warships. Corvettes are the smallest warships. The largest warship in the inventory of the Turkish Navy is frigates. After the Milgem project is finished, Turkey is due to design, develop and construct its first national frigate, the TF2000, sometime in the 2020s.

“The Milgem has been very useful from the point of design, development and construction of a national ship, and we are going to build on this experience to obtain the capability of building bigger warships,” the procurement official said.

Pakistan's Nukes: How Much is Enough?

Islamabad goes on a weapons spree

Pakistan has been on a shooting spree, conducting five test launches of various nuclear-capable missiles over the last six weeks, raising the question of just how large the country’s nuclear arsenal needs to be to fulfill the relatively simple task of deterring Indian military action.

If the constant rhetoric by Pakistani civilian and military leaders is to be believed, the answer is not a whole lot. Consider the remarks made by Nawaz Sharif two weeks ago in observing the anniversary of Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests.

Sharif, who now heads the country’s main opposition party, boasted of the key role he played as prime minister in bringing about this achievement. He asserted that his actions have provided an infrangible guarantee of the country’s security vis-à-vis Indian military might, thereby resolving the fundamental vulnerability that has plagued Pakistan since its tumultuous founding. “India could have attacked Pakistan many times,” he stated, “but due to Pakistan being an atomic power, India could not gather the courage to do so.”

But if Sharif truly believes that the country’s defenses are now impregnable, why doesn’t he speak out against the continuing expansion of Pakistan’s nuclear forces that is rapidly leading Islamabad away from the minimum deterrence posture it declared following the 1998 tests? After all, if he really means what he said, this expansion is not only militarily unnecessary but also diverts precious economic resources away from more pressing national priorities.

Worries have arisen that South Asia is on the verge of a nuclear arms race. Islamabad in particular has added to its armory in dramatic fashion over the past few years and is reportedly on a path to soon eclipse the United Kingdom as the world’s fifth largest nuclear weapons power and to become the fourth largest by the end of the decade, overtaking France. India, in contrast, has been slower in expanding its capabilities and much of its effort is directed at deterring China.

A 2008 U.S. intelligence assessment warned that “despite pending economic catastrophe, Pakistan is producing nuclear weapons at a faster rate than any other country in the world.” It is increasing its capacity to generate plutonium and developing a wide panoply of delivery systems, including a submarine-launched nuclear cruise missile and a ballistic missile with a 60-kilometer range that can deliver a small, low-yield nuclear warhead designed for battlefield use.

So what is driving all this effort? Despite mounting internal security challenges – including a spectacular terrorist assault on the Pakistani army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi in October 2009 – the armed forces continue to be preoccupied, almost to an excessive extent, with the conventional military balance vis-à-vis India. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the powerful army chief, for example, regularly cites the threat posed by the Indian army’s “Cold Start” doctrine – which emphasizes the threat of large-scale but calibrated punitive actions in order to deter Pakistani adventurism.

     Looking for someting to shoot at

But Kayani’s alarm is exaggerated, as Cold Start has yet to become much of a reality. Indeed, the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems to have disowned it. Moreover, the Indian army’s condition does not inspire much confidence that it will soon to able to carry out the doctrine even of it had political support. Military leaders reportedly told Mr. Singh in the days following the November 2008 terrorist strikes in Mumbai that the army was utterly ill prepared to go to war. A 2009 internal assessment that the army submitted to parliament concluded that it would take some two decades for the army to gain full combat preparedness. And in a February 2010 cable to the State Department, Timothy Roemer, the then-U.S. ambassador in New Delhi, assessed that the Cold Start strategy “may never be put to use on a battlefield because of substantial and serious resource constraints.” More recent revelations, including a leaked letter from the chief of army staff to the defense minister, have further underscored the army’s woeful state.

All military establishments tend to inflate the capabilities of their chief adversaries, and the one in Rawalpindi is no exception. But something more fundamental is at work in driving Pakistan’s nuclear buildup: the dysfunctional state of civil-military relations. The army’s fixation on the Indian threat is rooted in large measure in a desire to perpetuate its traditional praetorian role. An important factor, too, is the cloistered nature of the nuclear weapons complex, which not only lacks any semblance of civilian oversight but also does not permit interaction with the broader military establishment.

With decision-making compartmentalized within a small coterie of officials, searching examination is severely constrained on a number of elemental issues, such as the political and military utility of nuclear weapons, the rationales for force posture decisions, as well as the development of sound strategies for possible employment.

One issue in particular that demands more rigorous scrutiny is why Pakistan is moving toward a Cold War-style strategy by acquiring a capacity to execute battlefield nuclear options against invading Indian forces. Tactical nuclear forces might have made sense when the United States and the Soviet Union were attempting to extend their deterrence shields thousands of miles away from their national homelands. But Pakistan needs only to deter its immediate neighbor, whose two largest population centers – Mumbai and Delhi – are within easy reach of existing Pakistani strategic systems.

Moreover, a minimal deterrent posture seems to have worked just fine in safeguarding Pakistani territory from Indian attack during the 1999 Kargil crisis and the 2001-02 military standoff that followed the brazen terrorist attack on the Indian parliament.

The good news is that some Pakistani leaders are starting to inch toward the right questions. Nawaz Sharif in the past has called for a reduction in the heavy share of the budget consumed by the military, a theme that Imran Khan, an increasingly popular opposition leader, repeated this week. General Kayani also recently acknowledged the need for greater balance in defense and development spending.

Parliamentary elections are approaching, perhaps as soon as this fall. Once a new government is in place in Islamabad, it would do well to ask tough questions about the direction of the nuclear program. Maybe then Pakistan can find the resources to address dire domestic needs like an increasingly wobbly fiscal situation, a chronic electrical power crisis that some experts suggest is more of a threat to stability than is terrorism, or a catastrophically underfunded education system that features the lowest enrollment rates in South Asia.

Nuclear weapons more modern, fewer in number

The Stockholm-based arms-control institute, Sipri, released a report on Monday (4 June) claiming nuclear warheads are fewer in number but are increasingly more sophisticated.

The United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel collectively have around 4,400 operational nuclear weapons.

An operational nuclear weapon is one where a warhead is placed on a missile or located on an active military base, for instance. Some 2,000 are kept in a state of high operational alert, says Sipri.

The eight states currently possess a total of approximately 19,000 nuclear weapons, compared to 20,530 at the beginning of 2011.

The drop in numbers comes primarily from existing Russian and US stockpiles where some of the weapons are simply too old, says the report.

"In spite of the world's revived interest in disarmament efforts, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states shows more than a rhetorical willingness to give up their nuclear arsenals just yet," said Shannon Kile, a senior Sipri researcher.

Instead, new nuclear weapons delivery systems or their plans are currently underway in China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The long-term modernisation programmes under way in these states suggest that nuclear weapons are still a currency of international status and power," added Kile.

Nato announced plans to replace its aging 180 B61 free-fall tactical nuclear bombs stored in bases in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Turkey in early May.

The US bombs are being replaced with precision-guided B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs. The upgrade comes with an estimated €3 billion price-tag.

According to a report by the European Leadership Network (ELN), a UK-based think-tank, the nuclear bombs positioned throughout the European countries have no guidance systems. The upgrade could provoke an arms race, warned ELN.

Meanwhile, Russian defence sources told the Interfax news agency on 23 May that they have tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) specifically designed to penetrate Nato’s European missile defence shield. The missile has a 6,000 km range.

Nato had earlier announced a new shield aimed to safeguard the continent from possible attacks by rogue states like Iran. But Russia claims the Nato shield actually seeks to undermine its nuclear deterrent.

A new 2010 arms-control treaty caps the number of strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 strategic nuclear weapons and 700 delivery devices.

The United States currently has 1,737 field strategic nuclear warheads carried by 812 active ICBMs, submarines-based missiles and bombers. Russia has 1,492 warheads on 494 ICBMs, according to ELN.

Pakistan successfully test-fires Hatf-VIII cruise missile

Pakistan, today conducted a successful Flight Test of the indigenously developed Air Launched Cruise Missile, Hatf-VIII (Ra’ad).  The Ra’ad Missile, with a range of over 350 KM, enables Pakistan to achieve strategic standoff capability on land and at Sea. ‘Cruise Technology’ is extremely complex and has been developed by only a few countries in the world.  

The state of the art Ra’ad Cruise Missile with Stealth Capabilities is a Low Altitude, Terrain Hugging Missile with high maneuverability, and can deliver nuclear and conventional warheads with pin point accuracy. A major additional feature of today’s test was the effective employment of the National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS). 

 It has enabled robust Command and Control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situational awareness in a digitized network centric environment to decision makers at National Command Centre (NCC).  The system has the added capability of real time remote monitoring of missile flight path. The successful launch has been commended by the President, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

Ministry to mull fitting cruise missiles on planned warships

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it will mull the possibility of fitting indigenous cruise missiles on the warships the country plans to build at home, one day after lawmakers passed a proposal asking the ministry to consider such a move.

"The Ministry of National Defense will make related assessments on the issue," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said in response to a question on equipping the planned missile boats with Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng 2E missiles.

The ministry will make decisions based on the evaluations, Luo said at a news conference.

Earlier this month, the Navy confirmed that it had commissioned Taiwan-based Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. to build a 450-ton prototype missile boat as part of a policy to have its vessels built at home.

The deal to build a high-performance prototype will pave the way for the Navy to add 10 to 12 new warships to its fleet, according to a local media report, which the Navy declined to confirm.

The missile proposal was put forward by lawmaker Lin Yu-fang of the ruling Kuomintang at a meeting of the Legislature's foreign affairs and national defense committee Monday.

Fitting the Hsiung Feng 2E missiles on the vessels would give the Navy a longer attack range and help it improve its combat capabilities, Lin said.

At Tuesday's news conference, Luo was also asked for an update on the Hsiung Feng 2E missile project, but he declined as usual to comment on issues related to the country's weapons-related research and development programs.

Local media reported on Monday that the ministry has completed the mass production and deployment of such missiles, described as a deterrent against the military threat from China.

Republic of Korea Requests Sale of UGM-84L HARPOON Missiles

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. Congress May 22 of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Korea for 18 UGM-84L HARPOON Block II All-Up-Round Missiles and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training for an estimated cost of $84 million.

The Government of Korea has requested a possible sale of 18 UGM-84L HARPOON Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 1 UGM-84L HARPOON telemetry exercise section, containers, Guidance Control Units (GCU) spares, recertification and reconfiguration support, spare and repair parts, tools and tool sets, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $84 million.

The Government of Korea is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our Korean ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability, which will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) intends to use the HARPOON Block II missiles to supplement its existing HARPOON missile capability. This will enhance the capabilities of the ROK Navy and support its regional influence, a key factor in Overseas Contingency Operations. The acquisition of the HARPOON Block II missiles and support will supplement current weapon inventories and bring the ROK’s Naval Anti-Surface Warfare performance up to existing regional baselines. The proposed sale will provide a defensive capability while enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces. Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces. The proposed sale of HARPOON missiles will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be the Boeing Company in St Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor personnel to Korea. However, U.S. Government or contractor personnel in-country visits will be required on a temporary basis for program, technical, and management oversight and support requirements.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.