Category: Space

Stealthy and swift: China’s hypersonic glide vehicles pose new threats

Posted on June 14, 2023 by alert5

In a recent article from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists examining China’s hypersonic capabilities, attention is drawn to the country’s surprising development of a hypersonic glide vehicle combined with a fractional orbital bombardment system. The writer highlights the potential implications of this technology, particularly its ability to deliver payloads faster and more covertly than existing systems.

果壳军事, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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South Korea, U.S., and Japan unite to share real-time missile warning data

Posted on June 4, 2023 by alert5

In a significant move towards bolstering trilateral cooperation in the face of mounting military threats from North Korea. South Korea, the United States, and Japan have agreed to establish a system for sharing real-time missile warning data. The announcement, made on Jun. 3, marks a crucial step in enhancing regional security and deterring potential aggression.

By Missile Defense Agency, USA (www.mda.mil),first uploaded by Wikifreund, Germany [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Japan and South Korea to share radar system via U.S. network for missile tracking

Posted on May 11, 2023May 10, 2023 by alert5

Japan and South Korea are reportedly planning to link their radar systems through a US network to share real-time information on North Korea’s ballistic missiles. The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper was the first to report on the agreement, which would allow Japan to improve its detection capabilities as North Korea continues to fire off missiles at an unprecedented pace.

By Missile Defense Agency, USA (www.mda.mil),first uploaded by Wikifreund, Germany [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Thule Air Base renamed to Pituffik Space Base

Posted on April 9, 2023 by alert5

In a ceremony held on April 6, Thule Air Base was renamed to Pituffik Space Base. The new name is a reflection of the base’s role in the U.S. Space Force and a nod to its location in Greenland’s Pituffik region, which is where the base is located. This change recognizes the significance of Greenlandic culture and pays tribute to the local people who have helped maintain the base in the harsh Arctic environment.

U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Kaitlin Castillo
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U.S. Air Force to use Varda reentry capsules for hypersonic test flights

Posted on March 24, 2023 by alert5

The U.S. Space Force has requested nearly $16 billion over the next five years to continue building a new class of spy satellites that can help track missiles moving at hypersonic speeds. The budget represents an increase of almost twice as much as previously estimated. The Space Force’s budget request for FY24 includes $2.3 billion for the development of small spacecraft in orbits less than 22,000 miles above Earth to identify and track enemy missiles. However, the Space Force is looking for steeper funding increases in the years ahead. The Resilient Missile Warning Missile Tracking Program is being developed to increase defenses against Russia and China, who are currently developing weapons that travel and maneuver above Mach 5 speeds. In the next few years, the program should produce several smaller satellites that can be launched into more diverse orbits, replacing the Space-Based Infrared System and Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites currently in orbit.

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