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Proceeding with its missile development, Iran recently launched a warship called Sina. The Iranian-built ship, with missile launch capabilities, is equipped with such features as radar, weapons, and a telecommunications system. (Source)

Additionally, Iran is working on an advanced version of the Sajjil-2 (also called Sejil), a missile described as having “high accuracy and destructive capability.”

The rogue state’s wasting no time developing and improving its ballistic missile capabilities, along with its nuclear program. The U.S. and others recently discovered a second nuclear facility in Iran, which Iran denies was secret. The country also test-fired the long-range Shahab-3 and the Sajjil-2, a surface-to-surface, solid-fuel missile.

Will Israel make a pre-emptive move against Iran?

(Image source: UPI)

 
Israel successfully test-fired a missile defense system it developed, according to an Israeli Defense Minister official. A missile from the country’s Iron Dome system intercepted and destroyed a short-range rocket called Grad, similar to the Katyusha rocket used by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. (Source)

Faced with short-range weapon and mortar shell attacks, Israel needed an anti-rocket system to neutralize these threats. The Iron Dome is an anti-rocket shield designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hizbullah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow II anti-ballistic missile shield. The Arrow II is designed to counter Iran’s Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of 1,250 miles, far enough to hit Israel.

Sources report that the Iron Dome may be ready to use in actual battle conditions sometime next year.

Israel considers Iran its biggest threat. In May, President Barack Obama met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to talk about problems in the Middle East. While Netanyahu hoped Obama would take a hard-line against Iran, Obama wants to meet with the rogue nation by the end of the year to talk. It’s no secret that Iran has nuclear ambitions, although it claims the program is scientific and peaceful in nature.

 
The The Associated Press reports that Israel wants to buy a missile defense system from the U.S. for protection against short-range rockets and mortar fire. Israel has its eyes on the Vulcan-Phalanx cannon and radar system, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to sell the system to his country.

Made by defense contractor Raytheon, the Vulcan-Phalanx will house the Iron Dome, an anti-rocket shield Israel successfully tested earlier this month, and two additional missile systems. (The Iron Dome is designed to defend Israel from Hamas and Hizbullah rockets and also serves as a major component in a multi-layered missile defense system that includes the Arrow anti-ballistic missile shield.)

Faced with short-range weapon and mortar shell attacks, Israel needs an anti-rocket system to neutralize these threats. Protection against long-range weapons includes systems like the Arrow II, which would counter Iran’s Shahab-3 missile.

In related news, Iran has warned Israel not to attack its nuclear sites. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently called Israel a “most cruel and repressive racist regime” during a United Nations conference in Geneva. Iran is developing long-range missiles and a nuclear program, and countries like Iran and Syria have Israel in their sights.

Last year it was reported that Israel may preemptively strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Iran said it would retaliate by deploying the Shahab-3. Syria’s president said that if Israel attacks Iran, there would be “catastrophic consequences for the entire world.” Despite the tension, Israel is still interested in peace talks with these rogue nations.

 
**Rogue state Iran will upgrade its missile production division, according to news source Xinhua. Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi, head of the Aerospace Organization, said “the reforms are intended to promote efficiency and help fulfill the requirements of the country’s armed forces.”

Additionally, Iran has been developing the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Although the country denies the allegations, the U.S. believes Iran is developing nuclear weapons. (Xinhua)

**Bizjournals reports that defense contractor Boeing contributed over $193 million to Arizona in 2007. Boeing’s missile defense work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program (GMD) generated $94 million in payroll, $137 million in household earnings, and $12.7 million in state and local taxes.

Arizona State University economic professor Lee McPheters said, “Looking at the average earnings across all the jobs created by GMD, both direct and indirect, the GMD program serves not only to expand the size of the economy in Arizona, but also to raise the average standard of living of its residents.” (Bizjournals)

**As expected, the U.S. and Russia are at loggerheads over missile defense bases in Central Europe. Earlier this week, we told you that the two countries would meet to discuss this and other issues. Apparently, the meeting wasn’t fruitful. “On key moments we didn’t succeed in bringing our approaches any closer,” Sergei Ryabkov said. “But this wasn’t unexpected.”

The bottom-line is that Russia wants Barack Obama to kill missile defense base plans in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Russia perceives as a threat. We’d like to think Obama would move forward instead of retreating, but that remains to be seen. We’ll keep you posted. (AP)