U.S. Military Eyes New Mini-Nukes for 21st-Century Deterrence
Patrick Tucker | Defense One
The future of nuclear weapons might not be huge and mega destructive but smaller, tactical, and frighteningly, more common. The U.S. Air Force is investigating more options for “variable yield” bombs — nukes that can be dialed down to blow up an area as small as a neighborhood, or dialed up for a much larger punch. The Air Force currently has gravity bombs that either have or can be set to low yields: less than 20 kilotons. Such a bomb dropped in the center of Washington, D.C., wouldn’t even directly affect Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. But a Minuteman III missile tipped with a 300-kiloton warhead would destroy downtown Washington and cause third-degree burns into Virginia and Maryland.
Politics, Both Home and Abroad, Drive South Korea THAAD Deployment
Aaron Mehta | Defense News
Following North Korea’s July 28 launch of what the Pentagon has termed an intercontinental ballistic missile, the South Korean government has called for increased deployment of launchers for its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system — an apparent change of heart for the new government of South Korean President Moon Jae-in. While the THAAD system technically came online earlier this year, the full system has not been deployed, with only two of the six launchers out in the field. Each THAAD unit consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 49 interceptors, a fire-control and communications unit, and an AN/TPY-2 radar. That radar has been a focal point of contention with China, who claims the radar could be used to spy into their territory.
A Terrestrial Strategy: Hill Presses Ground and Space Focus in Missile Defense Review
Jen Judson | Defense News
The Pentagon’s Ballistic Missile Defense Review is underway and lawmakers, through both the House and Senate defense policy bills, are signalling the direction they want to go when it comes to developing the future defense architecture against both regional and homeland missile threats. Both the House and Senate place a heavy focus on the future direction and modernization of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System (GMD) but also turn some attention out of the terrestrial sphere and into space.
Meet the DF-31AG and the DF-26: The Big Ballistic Missiles at China’s Military Anniversary Parade
Eric Gomez | Diplomat
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently celebrated its 90th anniversary with a large parade of personnel and equipment at the Zhurihe training base in Inner Mongolia. While the vast majority of systems in the parade are for conventional combat, there were two nuclear-capable ballistic missiles on display, the DF-26 and DF-31AG. The technical characteristics of the DF-26 and DF-31AG provide valuable insight into the future of China’s nuclear
Hiroshima Marks Nuclear Attack Anniversary
Deutsche Welle
Several thousand people – including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and survivors - observed a minute's silence in the center of the western Japanese city in memory of the victims at 8:15 am (UTC 2315), the time when a US B-29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb on the city on August 6, 1945. "Here in Hiroshima city, I renew my pledge to do my utmost to realize the nuclear free world and the eternal peace," Abe said at the ceremony. "I also pray for the peace of the A-bomb victims and the bereaved families, those attending here as well as the citizens of Hiroshima city."
A Russian Perspective on the Impact of Sanctions
Alexander Gabuev
The situation on the Korean Peninsula is moving in a dangerous direction. In order to affect the behavior of the North Korean regime and change its calculations, ultimately forcing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missiles programs, the international community has imposed a set of tough economic sanctions. The recent set of sanctions was codified in the UN Security Council Resolution 2321. So far, the impact of these and other sanctions in order to change the DPRK’s actions appears to be limited. Russia is one of the active players on the Korean Peninsula.