North Korea's missile threat: Is it credible?

North Korea have detailed plans to attack the waters surrounding Guam in a show of power against the United States of America. They have also vowed to continue their weapons programme, and to defy America's repeated threats.

Ignoring the geopolitical issues surrounding the debate, the question arises, how credible is the Korean threat? There is no doubt that Korea does have missiles capable of reaching the United States in theory, but in practice, the accuracy of Korea's system is in severe doubt, and this along with the defensive capabilities of the US means that any direct damage to the US from North Korea is highly unlikely

Where North Korea do have an edge though is that they have the potential to cause immense damage to South Korea. With Seoul being a highly populated capital close to the border, the artillery of North Korea has potential to cause immense damage. However, once again, the lack of reliability of the North Korean weapons means there is a huge possibility that the damage may not be as great as feared. Yet even a conservative estimate of about 1-2 million losses in Seoul is enough to deter an attack.

With Trump on the warpath, the unthinkable could happen. But even with this, the chances of North Korea being able to launch a full scale assault and causing immense damage is unlikely. Especially if the US attacks first on North Korean positions close to the border.

USA to approve V-22 sale to Israel

The USA is about to approve the sale of Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor transport aircraft and Boeing KC-135 tankers to Israel, according to industry sources, who indicate that the proposed deals are part of a larger package of agreements which also concern the planned sale of advanced weapon systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The wide-ranging deals are designed "not just to boost Israel's capabilities, but also to boost the capabilities of our Persian Gulf partners so they, too, would be able to address the Iranian threat," says one US source. New equipment will "also provide a greater network of coordinated assets around the region to handle a range of contingencies," the official adds.

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will visit Israel and Middle East region next week, when sources suggest the deals are due to be finalised.

Israeli air force magazine

The Israeli air force has evaluated the V-22 through numerous test flights performed in the USA, with the service having recommended purchasing an undisclosed number of the type for use during special operations.
Also expected to be contained within a deal are KC-135 tankers, which sources expect to replace the converted Boeing 707s currently used by the Israeli air force for inflight refuelling.

United Kingdom to Buy Hellfire Missiles

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for 500 AGM-114-N4/P4 HELLFIRE missiles. The estimated cost is $95 million.

This program will directly contribute to the U.S. foreign and national security policies by enhancing the close air support capability of the United Kingdom in support of NATO, ISAF, and other coalition operations. 

Common close air support capabilities greatly increases interoperability between our two countries’ military and peacekeeping forces and allow for greater burden sharing.

 

The proposed sale will support the UK’s ability to meet current and future threats by providing close air support to counter enemy attacks on coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. The UK, which already has HELLFIRE missiles in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation of Orlando, Florida. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the United Kingdom.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

Russia to Get New ICBM Later this Year

  

 

MOSCOW, April 18 (RIA Novosti) - The first modernized intercontinental ballistic missile, Yars-M, will enter service with Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) later this year, RVSN Commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karavayev said on Thursday.

A defense industry source previously told RIA Novosti the Armed Forces will take delivery of a fifth-generation Yars-M missile before the end of the current year.

Karavayev declined to provide any details, including the missile’s specifications.

The existing RS-24 Yars (NATO reporting name, SS-29) is a MIRV’ed ICBM that is heavier than the Topol-M (SS-27 Stalin) and can carry up to 10 independently targetable warheads.

The RVSN previously said that the Topol-M and RS-24 ballistic missiles will be the mainstay of the ground-based component of Russia's nuclear triad and would account for no less than 80 percent of the RVSN’s arsenal by 2016.

Karavayev also said the Tatishchevo RVSN Division, near the city of Saratov in southwestern Russia, at present has 60 Topol-M missile systems.

The Topol-M missile, with a range of about 7,000 miles (11,000 km), is said to be immune to any current and planned US antiballistic missile defense. It is capable of making evasive maneuvers, and carries targeting countermeasures and decoys.

By 2020, the RVSN are expected to be equipped with over 170 Topol-Ms (mobile and silo-based), as well as 30 SS-19 and 108 RS-24 missile defense systems in nine divisions.

Russia’s Anti-Magnitsky List May Include over 100 Americans

MOSCOW, April 12 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian response to the so-called Magnitsky List may include the names of 104 officials from the United States banned to enter Russia, Kommersant daily reported on Friday.

“As soon as the United States publishes its list, Russia will publish its own,” the daily quoted as saying its unnamed source close to the presidential administration.

According to the daily, Russia’s list initially included 71 names and now Moscow have 33 more people to add to the list bringing the number to 104.

The Magnitsky Act introduces visa and financial sanctions on Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses. The officials’ names are to be put on the so-called Magnitsky List, which is scheduled to be made public this week.

The act was signed into law by US President Barack Obama in December, and is ostensibly designed to punish officials believed to be connected to the death in a Moscow jail of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009. The scope of the legislation has been broadened since its inception to cover a whole range of suspected rights abusers.