On Monday, the Isreali missile defense system David’s Sling passed significant tests against a range of threats, which is an important milestone in Israel’s operational missile defense capability. David’s Sling designed to intercept long-range rockets to short-range ballistic missiles, making it an essential part of Israel’s layered defense against current and future threats.
Also on Monday, the South Korean Defense Minister spoke at a parliamentary hearing, stating that it is premature to discern whether North Korean activity at rocket facilities is missile-related. This comes in wake of satellite images released by American think tanks of possible launch preparations at the Sohae rocket site. In the past, this site has been used to launch satellites and conduct ICBM engine tests.
Additionally, it was reported that the U.S. and Japan are in the final phase of a plan to coordinate on the development of a new radar for Aegis ships. The new radar is expected to be a nonrotating system with 360-degree awareness and increase the chances of early threat detection.
On Tuesday, a Russian news agency reported that the country had decided to deploy squadrons of Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers to Crimea, in response to U.S. Aegis Ashore systems in Romania and Poland. These bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, but it is unsure at this time whether these squadrons will be armed with such weapons.
On Thursday, it was reported that 20 Russian hypersonic missiles were recently moved to a testing range, showcasing another milestone in the path to their eventual deployment. These air-to-ground “Kinzhal” missiles, were last tested in successfully in July 2018, against targets 500 miles away. The weapon is planned to be operational as early as 2020.
On Friday, it was reported that the Navy’s SM-6 interceptor is expected to get a significant upgrade for increased range and speed. The SM-6 is one of the U.S. military’s most diverse missile systems, with a capability to shoot down air targets, cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as target sea and land targets.
Click here
to read all of the headlines from the week.
