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Missile Defence Update

Previous editions of BASIC's Afghanistan Update are available below. To subscribe to BASIC's Email Updates, please go to the Email Updates Subscription page. Previous editions of Getting to Zero Update, Iran Update, NATO Update and Afghanistan Update.

August 2007

• Editorial
• Upcoming Events
• United States
  • MD architecture in Eastern Europe
  • Funding for MD in 2008
  • New study on boost phase options
  • Third Vandenberg interceptor to be in place by December
  • New missile villain identified - Venezuela!
  • Space policy
  • Prompt Global Strike
• Russia
  • Proposed joint US-Russian use of radar in Azerbaijan
  • Russia upgrading missile defences
  • Missile incident in Georgia
• UK government approves use of Menwith Hill for US BMD
• China: new analysis on ASAT

July 2007

• Editorial
• United States
  • MD architecture in Eastern Europe
  • Bill Clinton and Noam Chomsky on MD in Eastern Europe
  • Funding for MD in 2008
  • Testing of the Kinetic Energy Interceptor
  • Aegis strikes another hit
  • New pro-MD advocacy group launched in Washington
  • Space policy
  • Prompt Global Strike
• Russia
  • US offered use of radar in Azerbaijan
  • MD improvements around Moscow
  • Ballistic missile test
• Europe / Transatlantic
  • European MEPs debate MD
  • NATO MD review
  • WEU Assembly on MD and weapons in space
  • EU space policy: Galileo in disarray?
• Japan: one minute warning of a North Korean ballistic missile attack
• Click to Play "Missile Defence"

May 2007

• Editorial
• United States
  • Missile defence architecture in Eastern Europe
  • Testing the GMD missile defence system
  • Funding for MD in 2008
  • Joint MD programmes with Israel
  • Space policy
• Missile proliferation
• NATO's missile defence posture
• Prompt Global Strike
• Missile defences in Asia - fuelling a regional arms race?
• Book review: War in Heaven - The Arms Race in Outer Space
• The Pinocchio Award for services to Missile Defence

March 2006

• United States
  • Missile defence R&D funding: is the micro satellite program leading to space based weapons by stealth?
  • BMD oversight: re-arranging the deck chairs in the Pentagon.........while hiding the icebergs at MIT... and ignoring calls for greater transparency from the Government Accountability Office
  • Two critical reports by the DoD Inspector General: BMD wide open to hackers?
  • Missile test launch in Alaska
• Canada
  • US snubs Canadian overtures
• Poland
  • Leading European candidate for US BMD interceptors
• Japan
  • US to deploy radar system: more details announced
  • Joint US-Japanese test of missile defence system
• Russia
  • Back to the Future with a New Generation of ICBMs
• Publications

February 2006

• United States
  • Missile Defence Funding Continues to Spiral Upwards
  • Airborne Laser Program Demoted
  • Sea-Based X-Band Radar Arrives in Hawaii
  • Testing Times: Pentagon and CRS Reports Suggest Diminishing Confidence in Missile Defence
  • Capitol Hill War Game
  • Expansion of US Military Role in Space Anticipated
• Canada
  • Will Missile Defence Decision Be Overturned?
• Japan
  • US to Deploy Radar System Within Six Months
• Russia
  • Back to the Future with a New Generation of ICBMs
  • New Early Warning Missile Defence Base To Be Built in South of Russia
• India
  • Latest Nuclear Missile Ready for Launch
  • Indo-Israel Cooperation on Maritime Missile Defences
  • India and Pakistan Agree Flight Test Notification Agreement
• Publications

January 2006

• United States
  • US Spending on Missile Defence
  • US GMD System: 10th Interceptor in the Ground and First Operational Launch in More Than a Year
  • Back-to-the Future: The High Altitude Airship
  • MDA Seeking Responsibility for Cruise Missile Defence
  • Space Weapons
  • New Satellite Database
• Israel
  • Arrow Interceptor Test
• Japan
  • Missile Defence Pact with United States
• Poland
  • Also Keen to Partner the United States?
• Publications

August 2005

• US Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)
• Japanese Missile Defence
• Russia's New Missile
• South Korean Missile Defence
• China's Increasing Missile Arsenal
• Pakistani Missile Tests

June 2005

• US Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)
• Developments in Russia
• Iranian Missile Breakthrough
• North Korean Missile Test
• India and Pakistan Missile Tests
• Syrian Missile Tests
• US/Israeli Missile Defence
• Taiwan Fears over Chinese Missile Threat
• German Assent to Regional Missile Defence Plan

March 2005

• Canada says no to BMD
• US developments
• Meanwhile in Europe
• NATO and Russia
• US-India missile cooperation

February 2005

• Continuing technical difficulties for BMD
• Major budget cuts for BMD
• US shelves nuclear interceptor proposals
• Russia continues to upgrade its missile capabilities
• Canadian controversy over BMD
• Japanese plans for independent missile defence
• Taiwan deploys mobile launchers

December 2004

• Canada's growing resistance to join the US Ballistic Missile Defence System
• US missile defense test postponed yet again
• US missile interceptors to be based at RAF Fylingdales?
• Russia to deploy new mobile nuclear missiles
• Japan to lift arms-export ban for US missile shield project
• Taiwan plans to build Asia's Largest Missile Base
• Spain to deploy 64 Patriot missiles
• European debate about Galileo Military Applications
• European Defense Firms Buy Into US

November 2004

• Missile Regime suspends China
• US missile defence system still inactive
• US plans to speed up deployment of Aegis warships for missile defense
• Japan decides to develop missile defense system with US
• US, Germany and Italy to develop a ground-based missile air-defense system
• UK Reportedly to Join U.S. Missile Defense System
• Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile

October 2004

• Operational deployment of long-range missile defence system delayed
• Impact of BMD on US-Canada relations
• North Korea launches a short-range missile?
• Iran tests a medium range missile
• Tension between China and Taiwan
• Missile Defence and Space Weaponisation conference in London

September 2004

• Developments in Europe
• Thule Upgrade Agreement
• Rumsfeld visits Moscow
• China's Antisatellite Programme?
• Will Canada support BMD?
• Prospects for the Missile Defence Programme under a Kerry Presidency
• Developments in the United States

August 2004

• Australia and Ballistic Missile Defence
• Interceptor sites in Eastern Europe?
• Canada's future in the Missile Defence Shield
• Missile Defence in the US
• Missile Defence in the UK

July 2004

• New Basic Public Information Brochure on Missile Defence
• The passage of the 2005 US defence authorisation bill
• Debates in the UK House of Commons
• Testing of Aegis system
• Missile Defence developments in Canada
• Upgrade of Thule base in Greenland
• Australia signs up
• US-Japan joint exercises
• India's new government - lukewarm on missile defence?

May 2004

• Research on missile defence systems
• Missile Defence around the World
• Britain and Missile Defence

April 2004

• Kadish says 'no' to missile defence shield in space
• An effective missile defence still 'uncertain'
• US to deploy an Aegis destroyer in the Sea of Japan
• Missile defence system testing supports MDA war game
• Lockheed Martin to develop new next generation missile defence
• MDA to finance a new satellite weapons programme
• Missile defence conference held in Bradford
• Geoff Hoon responds to missile defence concerns
• The missile defence debate in Britain
• India and Russia to negotiate a partnership for a new missile
• Japan to resume H-2A rocket launches as early as November
• Ukraine declares it has 'missing' missiles
• Australia's missile defence research benefits
• Canada to call for a ban on arms in space

February 2004

• Pentagon seeks big spending increase for missile defence
• Missile defence system likely to be further delayed
• Request for more missiles to be deployed at Fort Greely
• £30 million spent by government on plans for missile defence
• Missile Defence Conference - BASIC/University of Bradford
• Canada in discussion with US on missile defence shield
• Taiwan's Defence Ministry reviews its missile capabilities
• Australia to step up missile defence despite Asian concerns
• US willing to discuss missile defence with Pakistan

December 2003

• Bush authorises $9.1bn for Missile Defence
• Democrat Presidential Candidates divided on Missile Defence
• Space is "fundamental to modern warfare" - Rumsfeld
• SBIRS High "at Risk of Cost and Schedule Overruns"
• Recent Contracts
• Britain's "growing interest" in Missile Defence
• Conference: Missile Defence - Threats, Responses and Projections, 18 March 2004
• Australia to participate in US Missile Defence
• Japan to introduce Missile Defence system
• Missile Defence on the agenda for NATO's Istanbul summit
• US puts pressure on Gallileo

November 2003

• Budgets and contracts
• Developments at Fylingdales (and in Greenland)
• Wider European participation - or not?
• The Debate in Canada
• Military and civil use of space - closing the gap
• Weapons in Space