Nuclear Policy News – August 15, 2019

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Top News

Competition to Build 5G Networks, Hypersonics Focus for Pentagon Research Chief
U.S. Naval Institute News

Arms Racing With China: Battle for the Missile Race Narrative
The Epoch Times

Russia’s Nuclear Weapons: Doctrine, Forces, and Modernization
Congressional Research Service

U.S. Nuclear Policy

Competition to Build 5G Networks, Hypersonics Focus for Pentagon Research Chief
U.S. Naval Institute News8/14/2019
The Department of Defense has made significant progress in the past 15 months in offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities to counter developments from China and Russia, its chief engineer said Tuesday.

It’s official: US Army inks Iron Dome deal
Defense News8/13/2019
The contract to purchase two Iron Dome systems for the U.S. Army’s interim cruise missile defense capability has been finalized, according to the deputy in charge of the service’s air and missile defense modernization efforts.

Congress set to approve Space Force next month, hold up centers around name
War is Boring8/13/2019
The long-awaited U.S. Space Force may soon have Congressional approval, making it the newest military branch to be created in over 70 years.

Leidos secures $46.5M follow-on contract to support nuclear detection office
Washington Business Journal8/14/2019
Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LDOS) inked a $46 million follow-on contract Wednesday to continue technology support and services for an Air Force office tasked with tracking the geophysical data of a nuclear event, defense officials said.

East Asia

South Korea moves to kick its missile defense shield up a notch
Defense News8/14/2019
South Korea plans to spend more money on boosting its missile defense shield in response to North Korea’s evolving missile capability, the Ministry of National Defense announced Aug. 15.

Taiwan Reveals Land-Based Variant Of Naval Point Defense Missile System To Guard Key Sites
The Drive8/14/2019
Taiwanese military installations face ever-increasing risks from Chinese cruise missiles, as well as other aerial threats.

Momentum for dialogue with North Korea ‘unshaken’ despite recent missile tests, Moon says
Stars and Stripes8/15/2019
President Moon Jae-in offered an olive branch to Japan over the two countries’ trade dispute on Thursday, while vowing to “solidify denuclearization and peace” on the Korean Peninsula before his term ends.

Russia/Former Soviet Union/Europe

Failed Russian nuclear test hints at Putin’s dangerous plans to beat U.S. defenses
NBC News8/13/2019
A recent explosion during what experts say was likely a Russian nuclear-powered missile test indicates Moscow could be pursuing dangerous technology in an attempt to beat U.S. missile defenses.

Kazakhstan asks for resolving of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty disputes
IT Technology News248/13/2019
The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed how the termination of the INF treaty may prompt an arms race in many parts of the world and threaten world peace and security.

Russia Showcases ‘Kinzhal’ Nuclear-Capable Air-Launched Ballistic Missile at Air Show
The Diplomat8/13/2019
Two MiG-31K fighters, armed with Kinzhal missiles, took part in an airshow in central Russia over the weekend.

Opinion/Analysis/Commentary

Arms Racing With China: Battle for the Missile Race Narrative
The Epoch TimesRick Fisher
8/13/2019
Not only is the United States now racing with China to build an adequate missile deterrent capability in Asia, it is also racing with Beijing over who will provide leadership and control the narrative regarding Asia’s strategic future.

Europe faces security threat from the rise in Chinese military power
The HillGary Schmitt
8/14/2019
Last week, on a visit to Australia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview that, while there were many reasons for the alliance to be in conversation with its Asian partners, there was a specific “need to assess the security consequences for all of us of the rising military power of China.” He added that this was not about NATO expanding its military presence in Asia, but rather about dealing with the fact that China was “coming closer” to Europe.

How The U.S. Army Can Play A Much Bigger Pacific Role Deterring China
ForbesLoren Thompson
8/13/2019
With U.S. naval forces stretched thin in the Western Pacific, making greater use of the Army to counter China’s rise seems like a no-brainer.

Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missiles Are a Terrible Idea. Russia’s Test Explosion Shows Why
Defense OnePatrick Tucker
8/14/2019
A flying unshielded nuclear reactor would spew massive amounts of radiation, and that’s if it’s working correctly.

Special Interest

Russia’s Nuclear Weapons: Doctrine, Forces, and Modernization
Congressional Research Service8/5/2019
Russia’s nuclear forces consist of both long-range, strategic systems–including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers–and shorter-and medium-range delivery systems. Russia is modernizing its nuclear forces, replacing Soviet-era systems with new missiles, submarines and aircraft while developing new types of delivery systems. Although Russia’s number of nuclear weapons has declined sharply since the end of Cold War, it retains a stockpile of thousands of warheads, with more than 1,500 warheads deployed on missiles and bombers capable of reaching U.S. territory.

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