SM-3 Block 11A Intercept of IRBM

12/13/2018
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Kauai, Hawaii, successfully conducted Flight Test Integrated-03 (FTI-03).  This was an operational live fire test demonstrating the Aegis Weapon System Engage On Remote capability…

Exercise Chong Ju 2018

06/06/2018
Exercise Chong Ju is an annual live-fire training exercise conducted at the Australian Army’s Combined Arms Training Centre at Puckapunyal training area in northern Victoria to showcase capabilities to Army’s next generation of combat leaders. Exercise Chong Ju 2018 included demonstrations from the M1A1 Abrams tank, ASLAV (Australian Light Armoured…

F-35As Arrive in Japan

11/21/2017
11/21/17: A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II soars over Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 2, 2017, on approach to Kadena Air Base, Japan. [maxgallery id="102799"] This marks U.S. Pacific Command’s first operational tasking for the F-35As and the first time a U.S. Air Force F-35A unit has deployed as a regularly…

Australian Minister of Defense Visit To PACOM

09/25/2017
09/25/2017: Monday Sep. 18, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Adm. Harry Harris met with Australian Minister of Defence Marise Payne, at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Adm. Harris welcomed the Minister’s first visit to PACOM headquarters. During Adm. Harris’ most recent trip to Australia last June, he participated with Minister Payne in…

SBX Entering Pearl Harbor, October 2014

01/07/2015
01/07/2015: The SBX is a one of a kind radar deployed near Japan used for monitoring missile threats in the Pacific, notably from North Korea.  Credit:Commander Navy Region Hawaii:10/24/14 According an Hawaii News Now story published in 2011: The SBX-1 structure towers, 28 stories high. "It's similar to a Nimiz…

North Korean Missile Test Exposes Limits of US Policy: Failed Policy Tools in Play

12/18/2012
2012-12-18 By Richard Weitz The White House denounced North Korea’s December 12 missile test as a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security." National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor called the launch "another example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behavior." He said that the administration “would work in a concerted…

Russia and DPRK Proliferation Issues: Positioning for Influence

12/02/2012
2012-12-02 By Richard Weitz Russian diplomats generally oppose using sanctions to punish countries whose governments misbehave. In the case of the DPRK, as with Iran, Russian policy makers argue that a non-coercive, incentive-based strategy offers the best means for persuading Pyongyang to denuclearize. Especially in the case of North Korea, Russian…