The Cipher Brief: In a series of recent briefings and statements, Trump administration officials have expressed growing alarm about Iran’s missile program, which they characterize as the ‘largest in the Middle East.’ Iran’s program poses a multi-tiered threat to U.S. interests and allies—its increasingly sophisticated medium-range ballistic program, exemplified by the Khorramshahr missile, places a… read more
Haaretz: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Iranian satellite launch, which Tehran said has failed, was actually part of the country’s attempt to develop intercontinental ballistic missile. Iran says it has conducted a satellite launch criticized by the U.S., but the satellite has failed to reach orbit. State TV on Tuesday quoted… read more
UPI: NEW YORK, Jan. 15 (UPI) — North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is “gaining time” as he fine-tunes his nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs, a Japanese analyst said Tuesday. During a conversation with former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus at Japan Society, former Lieutenant General of Japan’s Self-Defense Force Koichi Isobe said North Korea… read more
TASS: GENEVA, January 15. /TASS/. Inter-departmental consultations between Russia and the United States on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty have started in Geneva, TASS reports from the scene. The Russian delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov while the US delegation is headed by Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security… read more
DVIDS: Lt. j.g. McKenzie Anderson, USS Porter (DDG 78) training officer, was honored as the Navy’s Missile Defender of the Year (MDOY) at the annual Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) awards banquet held in Alexandria, Va., Jan. 11. The annual MDAA-sponsored event honors the best missile defense Soldier, Sailor, Airman and National Guard member for… read more
Defense World: Saab has won a contract with the Brazilian Army for deliveries of RBS 70 NG man-portable air defence system. In addition to the RBS 70 NG system, the order also includes training systems, camouflage systems and other associated equipment. This is the Brazilian Army’s first order of the latest RBS 70 NG version,… read more
TASS: MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. The lead frigate of Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov will make its first long voyage this year, according to a statement released by the Northern Fleet’s press service on Monday. “This year the ship is facing important combat training tasks. The frigate will make its first long voyage. Before this event,… read more
South China Morning Post: South Korea will receive its first F-35A stealth fighters in March, a milestone in the country’s effort to boost its defence capabilities despite a diplomatic thaw with its nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea. A South Korean military official said the first two jets would be “combat-deployed in April or May” and that… read more
Bloomberg: Kim Jong Un told the world this month that North Korea took steps to stop making nuclear weapons in 2018, a shift from his earlier public statements. The evidence shows production has continued, and possibly expanded. Satellite-imagery analysis and leaked American intelligence suggest North Korea has churned out rockets and warheads as quickly as… read more
Defense News: WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Review is in the final stages of pre-release, sources tell Defense News, after more than a year of release delays. The review, a congressionally mandated document looking at the status of America’s missile defense capabilities, could be unveiled as soon as the next week, although it has… read more
