The Diplomat: Defense officials from the six members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gathered in Astana this week for their 13th meeting. Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Kazakh defense minister, hosted ministers from China, Russia, and Tajikistan, as well as the president of the National Defense Affair Committee of Kyrgyzstan, and the army chief of Uzbekistan. The… read more
International Business Times: India, currently the world’s largest arms importer, plans to sell its supersonic BrahMos missile to Vietnam, marking a paradigm shift that is being seen as a response to neighbor China’s rising military muscle-flexing in the region. Besides, India is also eyeing countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Chile and Brazil to sell… read more
The Diplomat: At the beginning of June, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy has launched its first improved Incheon-class guided-missile frigate, known as Future Frigate eXperimental (FFX) II during development, The Korea Timesreports. The launching ceremony of the 2,800-ton (3,600-ton full load) frigate Daegu took place on June 2 at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine… read more
Tal Inbar, NK Pro: The unsuccessful launch attempt of a Musudan (AKA BM-25) missile by the DPRK on March 31 was the fourth failure to launch this missile this year – and a blow to Kim Jong Un’s pride. Since March, the North Korean regime has started to show to the world its missile achievements –… read more
Reuters: North Korea has restarted production of plutonium fuel, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Tuesday, showing that it plans to pursue its nuclear weapons program in defiance of international sanctions. The U.S. assessment came a day after the U.N. nuclear watchdog said it had “indications” that Pyongyang has reactivated a plant to… read more
Defense world.net: Northrop Grumman has won a modification contract worth $600 million to provide Missile Defense Agency and Department of Defense with enterprise-level technical integration and Ballistic Missile Defense System-(BMDS) level operational integration products and services. Under this modification, the contractor will also support the definition, development, and test and evaluation of integrated missile defense… read more
New Delhi Television News The members of the Missile TechnologyControl Regime (MTCR), a key anti-proliferation grouping, have agreed to admit India, diplomats said, in a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he meets President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday. Admission to the MTCR would open the way for India to buy high-end missile… read more
CNN: Young, rash and impulsive. A frank assessment of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by South Korean Defense Minister Han Minkoo. Speaking exclusively to CNN on the sidelines of a defense forum in Singapore, Han says it’s a combination that concerns him greatly. “Kim Jong Un was just 27 when he came to power… read more
Western Australia News: THERE were emotional scenes at Fleet Base West this morning as family and friends gathered to say goodbye to members of HMAS Perth which set sail for its first mission abroad. The 192 personnel are headed to the Middle East as part of Operation Manitou. Perth’s Commanding Officer Captain Ivan Ingham said… read more
Eurasia Review: North Korea’s recent failures to launch intermediate range missiles should not be derided prematurely. Pyongyang has the time and political will to refine its Musudan missile into a viable threat. By Nah Liang Tuang* North Korea’s failed tests of its intermediate range Musudan missile may give anti-Pyongyang regime watchers a sense of Schadenfreude… read more