Israel joins US for defence drill

Israel and the US are due to begin a two-week military defence exercise, thought to be the largest of its kind in Israel’s history.

The exercise will focus on providing a joint defence against a simulated co-ordinated missile attack on Israel. Up to 2,000 joint military personnel are believed to be taking part, along with at least 15 American ships. The Israeli army said the exercise was not a “response to any world events” but had been planned for a while. It is thought that a highly sophisticated new American radar, based in the Israeli desert, will be central to the exercise.

Two-fold significance

The simulation will involve elements such as barrage of missiles fired on Israel from all points south, east and north. The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Tim Franks said many observers inside Israel believed the exercise carried a two-fold significance. This included sending a message of deterrence to any would-be attackers of Israel – whether they were in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or Iran.

It was also possibly an attempt to reassure Israel’s people that the US took the country’s security seriously – especially at a time when the US has expressed increasing concern about Iran’s nuclear programme, although Tehran insists it is purely peaceful. Analysts say use the manoeuvres could also serve to make Israel feel more secure, and therefore encourage a return to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Last week, Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries with whom Israel has had good contacts, cancelled a joint air force exercise with Israel. Israel, Turkey and the US countries took part in a joint exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, off Haifa last year. Tim Franks said Turkish-Israeli relations have become strained this year, since Turkey heavily criticised Israel’s war in Gaza.

The exercise, which is entitled Juniper Cobra, is due to finish on 5 November.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8317919.stm

What else can come out of rockets…

 

http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/world/middle-east/1194811622215/index.html#1247465072600

Iran parades new missile

Iran has displayed its first indigenously produced ballistic missiles in a publicized military parade outside the shrine of Imam Khomeini. The ballistic missile is the Sejil, and while not much is known about the missile it is believed it is a two stage solid fuel missile. It is also reported that they are being mass produced. The show opened Iran’s Week of Holy Defense which commemorates the sacrifices made by Iranians during the Iran-Iraq War.

Secretary Gates on Iranian Intel Estimates

President Obama on European Missile Defense

Iran producing own missile defense?

Iranian Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, Commander of the Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base, is reported as saying that Iran has built a ballistic missile defense system. The reports quote the general as saying that Iran has, “build hi-tech missile defense systems capable of tracing and intercepting Cruise Missiles.” He said the project was a result of collaboration between the Iranian military, Iranian universities and Iranian businesses. He also said the indigenously produced technology would be able to complete with missile defense systems built around the world.

Despite this announcement many experts doubted the claim. Yiftah Shapir, head of the Military Balance Program at The Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv said, “I don’t believe they are capable of producing advanced surface to air missiles themselves” and added “when [Iran] really needs something, they buy it from the Russians, that’s why they are so anxious to buy the S-300.”

US, Israel to have largest joint missile defense test

An Israeli Arrow interceptor

In October the United States and Israel will participate in the largest ever joint US-Israeli missile defense exercise.  The exercise, called Juniper Cobra will feature elements from the US’s European Command (EUCOM), the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Israeli  Air Force’s Air Defense Division.  It will be held in Israel and will include the Arrow -2, THAAD and Aegis missile defense systems.

There is also growing speculation that the US may leave some missile defense elements behind in Israel as a way to protect against the growign Iranian threat. More on that as information becomes available.

Iran 3-4 years from hitting London?

According to Uzi Rubin, the former head of Israel’s missile defense program, Iran may only be 3-4 years from having the ability to strike most of Europe with a ballistic missile. Uzi said, “If they push it — put all the entire budget, put all the engineers — three or four years.” The 3 to 4 years estimate is the amount of time he thinks could be needed to extend the range of Iranian ballistic missiles to 3,900 kilometers so they would be able to reach London.

Rubin also said that Iran had accomplished “a technological and strategic breakthrough” with its Sejjil solid propellant missile. “Based on its demonstrated achievement in solid propulsion and staging, Iran will face no technological challenges” in doubling its range. He continued that, “The predictions (about Iranian capabilities)are coming true, perhaps sooner than anyone thought” and that he thought, “there was an underestimation of Iranian capability.”

The U.S Air Force’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center said in a report that it believed Iran could produce within in 6 years an ICBM that could hit the US. The report said that, “Iran has ambitious ballistic missile and space launch development programs and, with sufficient foreign assistance, Iran could develop and test an ICBM capable of reaching the United States by 2015.”

Iran 6 months from nuke?

Check out this entry from missile defense expert Baker Spring on the Heritage Foundation the Foundry.  It builds on an article I wrote earlier on a German intelligence estimate that said Iran may be only 6 months away from developing a nuclear weapon.

As Mr. Spring points out, this information alone could refute the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate that said Iran had halted its program in 2003. The sources say that following a strategic decision by Iran’s leaders, they could have a nuclear weapon in as little as 6 months. At the very least, Mr. Spring says we hedge our bets and err on the side of caution and continue building missile defenses.

For the complete listing of Baker Spring’s commentary and articles click here.

Missile defense around the world

Every once in  while, the Senate stands up and believes in something. Last week appeared to be one of those weeks, at least regarding the European missile defense system. Of course, it was politically expedient as well. It was impressive to see the Senate go on record to support missile defense. Maybe we’ll see more of this in October.

On the other hand, the Tehran Times see woefully uninformed about missile defense. Oh those “Zionists”, it says. The system won’t work the article wants to tell us.  Too bad the European site could have some benefit to Israel and that Israel has some other options and doesn’t just give up.

Lastly, and expect more on this, North Korea continues to press the boundaries of rhetoric. Its words cross lines, but will its missiles.