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Earlier this week, India tested its missile interceptor defense shield, designed to detect and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, but the test failed after radar lost track of the Prithvi 2 target missile (nuclear-capable). The interceptors weren’t launched. (Source: AFP)

India is developing weapons to protect itself from China and Pakistan. Last November, India test-fired a nuclear-capable, medium-range missile, a surface-to-surface Agni-II with a warhead range of 1,560 miles.

The Heritage Foundation’s Lisa Curtis and James Carafano wrote an article about directed-energy (laser) missile defense and cooperation between the U.S. and India in developing this technology. They noted the versatility of both low- and high-powered lasers, which can neutralize ballistic missile threats from a range of sources. In lieu of a full-scale retaliation, high-powered lasers can limit the scope of reprisals and contain the inevitable damage.

In 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, comprised of 45 countries, lifted a three-decade ban on nuclear trading with India. The country first tested an atomic bomb in 1974 and again in 1988. India refused to sign non-proliferation agreements. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the lifted ban “marks the end of India’s decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream.” He added, “It is a recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology. It will give an impetus to India’s pursuit of environmentally sustainable economic growth.” Singh traveled to the U.S. and met with President George Bush.

Back in January, the Heritage Foundation’s Lisa Curtis and James Carafano wrote an article about directed-energy (laser) missile defense and cooperation between the U.S. and India in developing this technology. They noted the versatility of both low- and high-powered lasers, which can neutralize ballistic missile threats from a range of sources. In lieu of a full-scale retaliation, high-powered lasers can limit the scope of reprisals and contain the inevitable damage.

India’s back in the news. Defense News reports that India recently test-fired a nuclear-capable, medium-range missile, a surface-to-surface Agni-II with a warhead range of 1,560 miles. Additionally, India has the Agni-III, which has a range of about 1,864 miles.

India is developing weapons to protect itself from China and Pakistan. See the Office of Naval Intelligence’s report on China’s navy.

 
**Good news for U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The company likely will post higher 4th quarter earnings, a trend that began under President George Bush. In fact, its earnings more than doubled under Bush. The higher profits may continue under Barack Obama. Bloomberg reports that Lockheed’s earnings rose one percent to $1.91.

Boston-based analyst Cai Von Rumohr said, “Defense stocks were pretty awful in the fourth quarter on a growing recognition of pension issues and concern Obama would be worse for the industry…With Obama wanting to create jobs it’s much less likely he’ll be looking at the defense budget as a way to save money. That would be counterproductive.” (Bloomberg)

**In other Lockheed news, UPI reports that the company’s F-35 stealth Lightning Joint Strike Fighter is designed to destroy Russia’s S-300, some of which Russia may have sold to rogue state Iran. With Israel in Syria’s and Iran’s sights, the U.S. is ready, willing, and able to supply our ally with missile defense technology like the F-35. (UPI)

**According to the AFP, India’s latest missile defense test was a failure. Indian scientists said the Russia/India-developed BrahMos missile “had flown only in the general direction of its target.” The missile was fired from the Pokhran range near the Pakistan border. (AFP)

Incidentally, India has been in talks with the U.S. to buy a missile defense system. An American embassy official reportedly said, “India is a partner of ours, and we want to provide it with whatever it needs to protect itself…This fits into the overall strategic partnership we are building.”

 
**U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $6.3 million contract to provide support for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System work on the Ticonderoga Class guided missile cruiser modernization program, as well as Turkey’s MEKO Track IIA and IIB frigates.

Lockheed’s vice president and general manager Dan Schultz said, “The MK 41 is the world’s most reliable below-deck, multi-mission naval missile launching system with a launch success rate of more than 99 percent.” (defense.professionals)

**A Kansas City Star editor says President-elect Barack Obama should move forward on missile defense, and that he has a “tendency to straddle the missile-defense issue.” He notes, as we have, that Russia has threatened to install missiles near Poland if the U.S. moves forward with its plan to build a missile defense shield in the country. Obama’s support for the plan is lukewarm at best and apathetic at worst.

Message for Obama:

“With the Iranians proceeding on their missile technology and nuclear programs, it would be better to have a Central European missile defense capability operational sooner rather than later.” (McClatchy Newspapers)

**Last week we blogged India and the U.S. meeting to discuss India buying missile defense shields from us. Both countries signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement last October after more than three decades of sanctions. A senior official in Pakistan, India’s rival, said his country would “have to take counter-measures to respond…For the past many years, we have been considering the possibility of such an outcome one day.”

Journalist Peter J. Brown said China may have problems with India’s missile plans. He writes: “The US seems determined to surround China with US-built anti-missile systems. Using North Korea as a valid excuse at first, the US anti-missile footprint could soon extend from Japan – including Japanese cruisers stationed offshore – and South Korea to Taiwan and India .” (Asia Times)

 
India

Just as our country’s plans to install missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic have angered Russia, our possible deal to sell a defense system to India certainly will anger Pakistan, India’s rival.

India has been in talks with the U.S. to buy the system. An American embassy official reportedly said, ”India is a partner of ours, and we want to provide it with whatever it needs to protect itself…”This fits into the overall strategic partnership we are building.”

The BBC reports that a senior Pakistani official said his country would “have to take counter-measures to respond…For the past many years, we have been considering the possibility of such an outcome one day.”

The U.S. and India signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement last October after more than three decades of sanctions.

Aegis

The Navy Times reports that the U.S. Department of Defense will install Aegis ballistic missile defense technology on up to four additional warships. If the installations go forward, the U.S. will have 21 warships equipped with Aegis technology. (Source)

Last summer, Adm. Alan Hicks, program director for Aegis ballistic missile defense said, ” I believe near term that we need an additional four to six Atlantic Fleet ships in order to give the necessary flexibility to the fleet commander to keep the presence forward.”

Installing a missile defense system on one warship costs upwards of $12 million. The systems serve as protection against missile attacks from countries like North Korea.

 
Last Saturday, Iran launched a new missile called Nasr-2 in the Gulf of Oman near the Pakistan border. The missile, launched from a warship, hit its target 19 miles away. RIA Novosti quotes Iranian Deputy Navy Commander Adm. Qasem Rostamabadi, who said the launch’s goal was to “increase the level of readiness of Iran’s naval forces and also to test and to use domestically-made naval weaponry…[and] enhance the country’s deterrence capability.”

Given Iran’s determination to upgrade and improve its missile systems, it’s imperative that the U.S. moves ahead with its plans to install missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. (RIA Novosti)

More blustering from Russia. On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that U.S. plans (and NATO’s approval of the plans) to build missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic leads Russia to conclude that “the so-called ‘integrated’ European missile defense network will be aimed against Russia.” Despite Russia’s paranoia and threats to install missiles near the Polish border in retaliation, NATO wants to assure it otherwise. (RIA Novosti)

Last week, Russia successfully test-fired a multiple warhead-carrying, sea-based missile. Fired from a submarine in the White Sea, the Bulava missile hit its target on the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Pacific Ocean. Russia recently announced that it has approved “full-scale production” of Bulava missiles. (UPI)

 
**In an op-ed in the Opinion Journal, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton writes about President-Elect Obama’s visit to Polish President Lech Kaczynski, which we briefly mentioned this week. Bolton noted that although Obama didn’t commit to the planned missile defense shield in Poland, Kaczynski is under the impression that the project will move forward. In fact, Obama was explicit about not committing.

“Mr. Obama contradicted a head of state, clinging to a campaign position that could most kindly be described as weak and ambiguous,” Bolton writes. “The statement also reflected a naiveté in the structuring of such transition conversations — and future dealings with truly unfriendly foreign leaders — that could have been avoided.”

**On Wednesday, India successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface missile called Shourya, which has a range of 375 miles. The missile was fired from Balasore in eastern Orissa state. The missile is designed to protect against attacks from Pakistan, India’s rival. The two countries engaged in battle three times since gaining independent from Great Britain in 1947. Since 1994, they’ve held peace talks. (AP)

**On that same day, Iran test-fired a new missile (successfully?), which has a range close to 1,200 miles. With that capacity, the missile can reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf region. The U.S. suspects Iran may be building atomic weapons, which Iran denies. Although our new president has been critical of the current president’s policy, he has not ruled out “military action” should the U.S. discover that Iran is covertly building a nuclear arsenal. (Reuters)