Taiwan: Bummer Of a Geographic Birthmark

Between 1000 and 1400 Chinese missiles are aimed at Taiwan today.  Before long, that number will increase to 2000. China is on track to be able and destroy 90 percent of Taiwan’s key assets. Of course, China says their military build-up is purely defense in nature.  I guess the best defense is a good offense? [...]

Wheel In The Sky? No, Laser From The Sea

A sea-based laser might make for a bad day for an unsuspecting UAV. However, you’d think such a laser it would be even more desirable for missile defense. Especially in a place like the Middle East where a laser’s effect is not so diffused by water vapor.  I suppose there’s some sort of algorithm to [...]

Facing Reality: ‘New’ START Won’t Be Quickly Ratified

Defense News relays the obvious, which is news because expectation management is being exercised.  The administration doesn’t expect new START to be ratified quickly. I’d expect U.S. nuclear modernization and perhaps missile defense will become more closely linked to new START ratification. Months ago the administration attempted to sweeten the deal with a proposed plus-up [...]

Modified Ground-Based Interceptor Completes Successful Flight Test

Missile defense successes, much like uneventful landings, are not big news. Remember the three stages of defense innovation: first it can’t be done.  Next, it will cost too much.  Finally, ‘why didn’t we do this sooner?’ Missile defense haters were not immediately available for comment.

Full Missile Defense For Thee But Not For Me?

The Reuters article US plans full European missile shield in 8 years raises an interesting question: would it be a good idea for the U.S. to have a full missile shield? The article describes the European missile defense endeavor as a multi-billion dollar effort.  Now, another question: what is the share-line with the Europeans?  The [...]

I Know Why The Caged Bear Screams

This article originally appeared in Air University’s The Wright Stuff. I Know Why The Caged Bear Screams About sixty days have passed since the administration decided to cancel the European ground-based missile defense program.  The cancelled program had been planned as ten ground-based missile interceptors to be based in Poland.  The interceptors would work cooperatively [...]

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty–What Have You Done For Me Lately?

With the pending expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Senator Richard Lugar goes full-court press in advocating for Congressional and executive approval to allow for continued interim inspections and monitoring following START’s actual expiration.  The follow-on to START still has to finish re-negotiations and then get ratified by both the Russian Duma and [...]

Iran welcomes U.S. missile defense reversal

I tend to think Iranian leadership is lying anytime their lips are moving, often to a cartoonish effect like former neighbor Baghdad Bob. But here I am indeed confident they are truly pleased to see the European missile defense effort in Poland and the Czech Republic is being shuttered. Of course, the reasons behind this [...]

Europe’s Shelved Missile Defense: Realpolitik, Hedging, Wisdom, or Bad Call?

What is the fundamental importance of a missile defense system? It keeps the fight “over there.” That is, a viable missile defense system keeps an adversary’s missiles from killing its intended victims. As missiles have proliferated, missile defense has become more important, especially when a rogue (nation or otherwise) has or is going to get [...]

World War II? Nothing to do with Stalin, says Russia’s President

Perhaps you thought Ramses was the king of denial? The sort of Russian “thinking” outlined in this article should be a serious caveat emptor for the administration as they work with the Russians on arms control and missile defense issues. If this is the sort of stuff they’re selling, I’m hoping we’re not buying.