DefenceTalkAfter meeting with thousands of Airmen in the ICBM community, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said she believes there is a systemic problem among missile launch officers. James and Lt. Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, the commander of the Global Strike Command, briefed the press Jan. 30, as part of the on-going examination of this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-officials-address-systemic-problems-in-icbm-force-50213/

DefenceTalkChina’s military has released images of an intercontinental ballistic missile with enough range to reach the United States, as Beijing is involved in a series of rows threatening to embroil Washington. The pictures of Chinese soldiers test-firing a Dongfeng-31 missile, which is said by experts to be able to carry nuclear warheads 8,000 kilometres (4,960 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-conducts-long-range-nuclear-missile-drill-military-50161/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea is making progress on an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a first-generation nuclear warhead to the continental United States, a leading US think-tank said Tuesday. The closely followed 38 North website of the Johns Hopkins University’s US-Korea Institute argued that ICBM mock-ups seen at recent military parades in Pyongyang were “less fake” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-progressing-on-icbm-to-strike-us-think-tank-49638/

DefenceTalkNew test launches of the troubled Bulava missile will start later this year following a recent unsuccessful launch that forced the Russian military to suspend sea trials of new Borey-class subs, a senior government official said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered five additional launches of Bulava SLBM following a failed launch on September […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-resume-bulava-missile-tests-by-year-end-49057/

DefenceTalkA new report by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center warns that China is trying to expand its offensive missile forces and solidify its first-strike advantage in the Western Pacific. According to the report, China “is developing and testing offensive missiles, forming additional missile units, qualitatively upgrading missile systems, and developing methods to counter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/growing-chinese-missile-threat-argues-for-investment-in-long-range-strike-48460/

DefenceTalkAirmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile here during an operational test at 6:27 a.m. PST, today. Col. Brent McArthur, the 30th Space Wing’s Vice Wing Commander, was the launch decision authority. The launch team, under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, included crew members from the 91st Missile Wing, Minot […]https://www.defencetalk.com/minuteman-iii-test-missile-launches-from-vandenberg-afb-47884/

DefenceTalkA French test of an M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile failed on Sunday as it self-destructed off the coast of Brittany, officials said. “It was a failure, the reasons will be determined by an investigation,” said Lieutenant Commander Lionel Delort, a spokesman for the Atlantic Naval Prefecture. He said the missile “self-destructed during its first propulsion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-m51-ballistic-missile-self-destructs-in-failed-test-47689/

DefenceTalkThe 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 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-get-new-icbm-later-this-year-47506/

DefenceTalkThe United States will need between five and seven Ground Based Interceptors (GBI) to intercept one Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile, a Russian military expert said on Tuesday. “From my contacts with the director of the [US Department of Defense’s] Missile Defense Agency, I have learned that the Americans will need five to seven interceptors […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-needs-5-7-gbis-to-intercept-one-topol-icbm-expert-47327/