Strategic Defense Initiative News Archives

Amid the uncertainty about whether a deal with Iran over its nuclear program is possible, the United States and Israel are conducting their largest-ever missile-defense exercises designed to counter an Iranian missile bombardment.

Some 2,000 American and Israeli military personnel are carrying out a joint missile defence exercise.

The USS Higgins, a warship fitted with the US Navy's most sophisticated missile-defense system, is docked so nonchalantly between the comely cruise ships and workaday shipping vessels of the Haifa port that one could hardly tell it's in the throes of the largest-ever joint military exercises of their kind.

The exercises between the US and Israel have been held annually since 2001, but testing Israel's ability to defend itself from a missile attack has seldom seemed this urgent.

Western nations are on edge after last week's inconclusive nuclear talks with Tehran, which has upped the ante in recent months with numerous missile tests. Israel, too, has increased its saber rattling toward Iran, repeatedly making clear that a military option for containing Tehran's nuclear ambitions remains on the table. Any attack by Israel would probably result in Iranian (and Hizbullah) missiles fired at Israel.

JS Myoko, Japan's third destroyer equipped with Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile target above the atmosphere during a test event today.

The Department of Defense plans to complete all 14 of the silos housing missile interceptors at Fort Greely, home of the military's Missile Defense Complex, Alaska's two U.S. senators said.

Poland is ready to take part in a new American missile shield system, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Oct.

Lockheed Martin Corp will furnish a wide range of ongoing development support for the Aegis ballistic missile defense weapon system under a contract valued at $1 billion.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force achieved another ballistic missile intercept in space using a Raytheon Company -built Standard Missile-3. During the Oct.

Military contractors are facing anemic growth in 2010 as the Pentagon cancels some of its largest weapon-systems programs, but Goodrich Corp.

Japanese and U.S. warships are preparing to test a missile defense system off Kauai.

The Obama administration's announcement last month that it was scrapping plans to build missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic removed a prime irritant in the U.S.-Russian relationship; Russians felt the missile defense network was targeted as much at them as against the purported threat, Iran.

Raytheon Co.'s Tucson-based missile business won two contracts worth more than $100 million to design and develop a system for blocking enemy rockets, the defense contractor said Monday.

As Vice President Joe Biden tours Central Europe this week, missile defense is high on the agenda.

Lockheed Martin Corp. has won more work developing the Aegis missile defense system.

Raytheon Co. has won a $3 million contract to create a prototype sensing architecture that could consolidate several missile defense systems.

TEL AVIV, Israel a ' More than 1,000 U.S. troops and some of the U.S. Armya TMs most sophisticated weaponry arrived in Israel this week to practice shooting down ballistic missiles to protect Israel from potential adversaries, most likely Iran.

A U.S. army official in Romania says an American military base near the Black Sea port of Constanta will become a permanent facility in the spring and be jointly used with Romanian forces.

NATO defense ministers are meeting in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, to once again discuss strategy in Afghanistan.

Some 2,000 American and Israeli military personnel, together with missile batteries and radar, are moving into positions around the country, as the first phase of the Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise unfolds.

The U.S. violin virtuoso Joshua Bell helped raise funds Wednesday for a Jewish History museum in Poland with a charity concert at Warsaw's Opera House.

Russia and the United States hope to have a legally binding document renewing a key agreement on limiting their nuclear arsenals by the beginning of December, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

A scientist has appeared in court for allegedly trying to sell classified secrets to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence agent.

KIEV: Ukraine's top diplomat yesterday reassured Russia that Kiev was not in talks with Washington over the new US missile shield plan, as he sought to mend relations eroded by a series of crises.

A massive air defence drill under way in Israel will join Israeli and US systems to create the world's most advanced anti-missile umbrella to protect the Jewish state, officials say.

The United States pledged to provide conventional forces and missile defense on top of its nuclear umbrella to shield South Korea from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Russia has suggested starting with the United States soon a serious evaluation of the revised U.S. missile defense plan in Europe, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told a press briefing Thursday.

During a speech at the Center for Security Policy, the former vice president pilloried the Obama administration on a variety of issues.

TEL AVIV: A major air defense exercise launched with Israel this week will help the United States craft its European missile shield, a US commander said on Thursday.

Adm. Gary Roughead's world is getting bigger. Roughead, the chief of naval operations, is overseeing an expansion of the Navy's duties into humanitarian aid, shipping-channel protection, the shifting needs of two wars and an ascendent Chinese navy.

Vice President Joe Biden applauds as he waits to speak at a campaign event for New Jersey Gov.

The possible deployment of elements of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in Ukraine has become one of the most debated issues of the "new anti-missile defense configuration." The U.S. is considering deploying an anti-missile radar in Ukraine, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Alexander Vershbow, formerly the U.S.

Israel and the United States commenced what is believed to be their largest ever joint-military exercises in missile defense Wednesday.

NATO defense ministers will meet here Thursday to discuss the war in Afghanistan and the growing support for President Barack Obama's plans for a new missile defense system in Europe.

Czech Civic Democrat head Mirek Topolanek believes that Czechs should start talks with the U.S. about a new type of cooperation in the military, defence and security areas during U.S. Vice-president Joe Biden's visit to Prague this week, he wrote in a statement released to CTK Tuesday.

TBILISI: The United States does not envisage placing any elements of a revised missile defense system within non-NATO members and is not in consultations with any such states, a senior US defense official said on Tuesday.

A scientist who once worked on the Star Wars missile defense project and is credited with discovering the presence of water on the moon is being accused by federal prosecutors of attempting to sell top secret information to a foreign intelligence agency.

The Israeli and U.S. militaries were set to begin a major joint air defense exercise Wednesday, highlighting military ties between the two allies at a time of heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

Jon S. Corzine, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Edison, N.J. Mel Evans October 20, 2009 3:12 AM EDT WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden is traveling to Central Europe to reassure leaders who are nervous that the Obama administration's courting of Russia means a reduced commitment to their security.

The Pentagon is spending more than USD 100 M to build new military bases in Bulgaria and Romania, even as the Obama administration recently scrapped plans for a missile-defense shield in other parts of Eastern Europe.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave an interview to editors-in-chief of RIA Novosti, the Voice of Russia radio station, and the Russia Today TV channel in which he discussed topical issues of Russian foreign policy and current global developments.

The U.S. Army and the Missile Defense Agency activated the second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Battery today in a ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas.

In "Time to hit the overcharge button" As John noted here , I implied that in his foreign policy Obama is a fool.

A battery of armed Patriot missiles will station in Poland rotationally, Deputy Polish Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski said Friday.

Shortly ago, the United States launched two satellites for "missile defense." It is now widely advertising this as a "success" and the like, claiming that it was something to be highly proud of.

A top Russian diplomat suggested Thursday that the U.S. should not talk with non-NATO nations about a prospective missile shield, Russian news agencies reported.

Global logistics provider Agility will open U.S. headquarters for its public sector arm Defense & Government Services in Huntsville, Ala., a growing home to aviation, missile and space procurement activity.

The possibility of a Ukrainian radar facility being used as part of a U.S. missile defense system is being considered, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

TO FOREIGN AND NATIONAL EDITORS: WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance , www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org, explained that the recent commissioning of the USS Wayne E. Meyer, is a tribute to a great naval officer responsible for the development of the Aegis Combat ...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , wrapping up a three-day trip to Russia, said the U.S. and Russia should work toward creating a joint missile-defense system to combat common threats.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized talk of sanctions against Iran on Wednesday, undermining U.S. efforts to present a united front against Tehran's nuclear program at a crucial moment.

The United States says it has no plans to deploy U.S. radar systems or weaponry in Ukraine, following comments by a U.S. defense official that caused Russia to seek clarification.

Date : Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:59:47 +0500 U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS ON THE EVE OF CLINTON'S TRIP TO MOSCOW The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace October 12, 2009 Secretary Clinton will be in Russia this week to discuss nuclear disarmament, Iran, Afghanistan, and human rights with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and President Medvedev.

The United States has presented a proposal to Poland relating to its participation in the new U.S. defense system, Poland's Foreign Ministry spokesman Piotr Paszkowski said Tuesday.

Sept. 23, Congress launched the bipartisan Congressional Russia Caucus, chaired by Rep.

Israel and the United States, amid growing tensions with Iran, will simulate interoperability between missile defense systems this week during the biennial Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise.

The Obama administration is talking with Warsaw about placing some missile interceptors on Polish soil and likely will only need to modify a Bush administration-era pact to formalize the move, a senior State Department official said.

Israel and the US are in talks regarding the possibility that America will leave several Patriot 3 missile defense systems behind, following a joint missile defense exercise that will begin next week, defense officials said Monday.

Saturday, October 10, 2009 CHISINAU: The new US missile defence plan 'raises more questions than answers,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, warning that Moscow could still have objections to the revised missile shield.

Some U.S. reaction to President Barack Obama's win of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday:---"I congratulate President Obama on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today.

Russia said on Friday it was seeking clarification of "unexpected" remarks by a senior U.S. defense official that the United States was considering Ukraine as a place for stationing early warning radar systems.

A powerful traditional chief in the Marshall Islands is suing the western Pacific nation's government over a treaty which gives the US the use of his land for a missile testing base.

MOSCOW: Russia and the United States will hold a first round of talks on missile defense before the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on October 12-14, said Russian Foreign Ministry Thursday.

Louis Ren Beres is a professor of political science at Purdue University and the author of many books and articles dealing with international law, strategic theory, Israeli nuclear policy, and regional nuclear war.

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced today that the company has successfully tested a bi-propellant liquid rocket divert thruster applicable to the Early Intercept Divert and Attitude Control System .

Russian's new agencies are reporting that the foreign minister says the new U.S. missile defense plan looks less threatening than a Bush-era program scrapped by President Barack Obama.

Vice-President Joe Biden will visit Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic this month, the White House said Tuesday, amid fresh concerns over the U.S. commitment to eastern Europe's defense.

The following is a news release from Congressman Eric Massa. WASHINGTON, D.C. - " On October 1st, Rep.

The United States rankled some of its European allies and delighted Russia on September 17 when President Barack Obama cancelled plans to build missile defense bases in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Israel and the US are in talks regarding the possibility that America will leave several Patriot 3 missile defense systems behind, following a joint missile defense exercise that will begin next week, defense officials said Monday.

Former Montgomery mayor Bobby Bright, during his campaign for the U.S. House last year.

Pentagon does not specify the exact location of the US missile system yet - US Assistant Secretary of Defence Alexander Vershbow said in his recent interview with Russian news agencies.

The Obama administration has given a green light to the Department of Homeland Security to hire up to 1,000 new cyber experts over the next three years, the first major personnel move to fulfill its vow to bolster security of the nation's computer networks.

Ever since President Ronald Reagan proposed building a ballistic missile shield in 1983 to prevent a doomsday scenario, the idea has been dogged by an unanswered question: Will it work? The prime target during the Reagan era was Russian missiles.

It seems so strange that our latest national security policy debate pits unproven future missile defense technology against one that works.

Saudi Arabia is weighing buying an advanced Russian missile system to shore up its defence against a potentially nuclear Iran, Gulf analysts and diplomats said.

President Obama made a sound strategic decision, scrapping former President George W. Bush's technologically dubious plan to build a long-range missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The United States and Poland will remain close allies even after President Barack Obama's decision to drop plans for a missile defense shield in Central Europe, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the media after a telephone conversation with Obama Sept.

Less than a fortnight ago, the White House seemed to open a new chapter in relations with Iran by shelving plans to build a missile-defence shield in eastern Europe.

This article presents a good argument that Israel's concern about the threat of the Palestinian population to the Jewish state is actually behind the alleged Iranian nuclear threat.

Ground-based interceptor missiles to be deployed in the western United States in 2010 will be able to shoot down long-range Iranian rockets, Pentagon officials said on Thursday, brushing aside criticism of the Obama administration's European defense overhaul.

A senior State Department official told lawmakers Oct. 1 that Washington could deploy a U.S. Army unit to Poland under the Obama administration's newly unveiled missile defense framework.

Will the Kremlin take the tough steps on Iran the United States and its allies seek, asks DOUGLAS BIRCH AFTER Washington backed down on building a missile defence shield in Moscow's backyard, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has appeared to return the favour by signalling support for sanctions against Iran.

Freedom Rider: Iran s Right to Exist by editor and senior columnist Margaret Kimberley Submitted by Margaret Kimberley on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 12:36 President Obama has the uncanny ability to achieve Bush-like ends by much smoother means.

If diplomatic pusillanimity was the aim, President Barack Obama's decision to abandon our current missile-defense plans in Eastern Europe must be regarded as a masterstroke.

MOSCOW, September 28 New relations with U.S. encourage Russia to review stance on Iran / Turkey, Russia to cooperate effectively on South Caucasus - analyst / Italy, Germany, Turkey to pay Gazprom for gas they failed to use / Sberbank seeking buyer for its Opel stake / Vedomosti New relations with U.S. encourage Russia to review stance on Iran ...