The National Interest:
It was only a matter of time. As major powers, rogue regimes and terrorist groups acquired and, in a number of instances, employed increasingly sophisticated arsenals of rockets and ballistic missiles, those countries that found themselves under the gun, so to speak, would see an urgent need for missile defenses. Europe, the Middle East and East Asia are all experiencing the classic arms race action-reaction phenomenon. It is likely only a matter of time before the U.S. will find it necessary to significantly enhance its missile defenses of the homeland.
North Korea and Iran have been roiling the international system while demonstrating increased capabilities with a continuing, even intensifying, series of ballistic missile tests. In 2015, Pyongyang claimed to have become only the sixth nation in the world to successfully test a sea-launched ballistic missile. The North Koreans are working assiduously on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the U.S. homeland and recently saluted the G-20 summit in China by firing three short-range ballistic missiles into the South China Sea.
Iran appears to have turned the nuclear agreement into a reason for increasing the number of ballistic missile tests. In the year since the Joint Plan of Action was signed, Teheran has conducted eight missile tests, several involving multiple simultaneous launches. Iranian ballistic missiles are currently capable of holding at risk targets in Southeastern Europe, the Levant, the Saudi Peninsula and the Red Sea. Iran is also working on a space launch vehicle, a surrogate for an ICBM.
It is not surprising that the Republic of South Korea would not only move aggressively to acquire advanced missile defense systems but do so with an eye to building a layered defense capability. Seoul defied Beijing’s objections when it came to deploying the land-based Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Now the South Korean government has announced that it intends to equip the last three of its new class of indigenously-built destroyers with the most advanced version, Baseline 9, of the battle management software to operate the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. The new software allows for improved tracking and targeting of multiple ballistic and air-breathing objects and the conduct of multiple, simultaneous intercepts. The combination of the Aegis BMD system, THAAD and the shorter-range Patriot PAC-3 interceptor will provide South Korea with a layered defense against North Korean missiles.
