#ICYMI An unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle was tested June 17 after being launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Minotaur I rocket. The launch was an in-flight environmental test supporting the development of the Air Force's new Mk21A RV. The Mk21A RV is currently under contract with Lockheed Martin for its engineering and manufacturing development phase. After attaining full operational capability, the Mk21A RV will be integrated on the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system. The Mk21A program is currently in early development and overseen by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. #defense #launch #Mk21A #USAFD
Air Force Materiel Command’s Post
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US test launches rocket with warhead from new ICBMs The Mk21A reentry vehicle will be used in LGM-35 Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles that are expected to replace Minuteman III by 2031 NEW YORK, June 18/ The United States carried out a training launch of a Minotaur I rocket with the Mk21A warhead not equipped with nuclear charge from the Vandenberg US Space Force base. "An operational test launch of an unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Minotaur I rocket, Monday, June 17, at 11:01 p.m. PT.," it said. "The Mk21A program is currently in early development and overseen by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center," reads a post on the base’s website. The Mk21A reentry vehicle will be used in LGM-35 Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles that are expected to replace Minuteman III by 2031. William A. LaPlante, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, said earlier that the Department of Defense was looking at both dropping the Sentinel program and amending it. He confirmed that the implementation of the Sentinel program was delayed due to problems with contractors. Later, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown promised to take all possible measures to complete the Sentinel ICBM program in time. John F. Plumb, the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy said at a meeting with the Defense Writers Group, that his country was not planning to refuse from ground-based ICBMs, despite the problems with the implementation of the project for their modernization. #business #finance #financialservices
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#Sonar_System Market Share Charges Ahead with Huge Growth 2023-2032 https://lnkd.in/dQRR2Dv7 The growing #deployment of nuclear submarines #globally is the primary factor driving the #sonar system #market over the forecast time frame. In addition to that, increasing political tensions over the oceans, like those in the South China Sea, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, led the countries along these water bodies to develop their anti-#submarine warfare capabilities, thus contribute to the #development of the #sonar system market. Thales Thales Defence General Dynamics KONGSBERGGRUPPEN AV NRRL Aselsan thyssenkrupp Uhde thyssenkrupp Ultra Electronics Group Neptune Sonar Limited Kongsberg Maritime Exelis (Now part of Harris Corporation) Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin Space L-3 Communications Klein Associates Inc. Teledyne RESON Raytheon Raytheon UK
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#ThrowbackThursday 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗕-𝟱𝟴𝗔 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿... BEST OF 2023💪 👉 In addition to the Hustler's delta wing shape, distinctive features included a sophisticated inertial guidance navigation and bombing system, a slender "wasp-waist" fuselage and an extensive use of heat-resistant honeycomb sandwich skin panels in the wings and fuselage. Since the thin fuselage prevented the carrying of bombs internally, a droppable, two-component pod beneath the fuselage contained a nuclear weapon -- along with extra fuel, reconnaissance equipment or other specialized gear.
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𝗔 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗺: 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 In a recent congressional revelation, the spotlight has turned to Russia's potential advancements in nuclear anti-satellite (ASAT) technologies. This development isn't just about new military capabilities; it's a wake-up call to the international community about the evolving landscape of space warfare and defense. The implications extend beyond immediate threats to assets in space, touching on broader issues of international treaties, specifically the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the urgent need for strategic dialogues to prevent Russian aggression. As we stand at this vital moment, the conversation needs to pivot to more proactive measures. How do we balance national security with the collective responsibility of preserving space as a global commons? This scenario presents a unique opportunity for policymakers, industry leaders, and the global community to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration. #SpaceDefense #Policy #spaceforce #nukes
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🛰️ **Insights on Russian Nuclear Anti-Satellite Weapons: A Balanced US Approach Needed** - **Urgency in Washington**: The White House confirms Russia's development of a concerning anti-satellite capability, emphasizing the need for a measured US response. - **The Role of ASATs**: Anti-satellite weapons, capable of disabling or destroying satellites, underscore the strategic importance of space assets in modern life and national security. - **Russia's Capabilities**: Existing Russian ASAT capabilities range from cyberattacks to direct-ascent missiles, posing a multifaceted threat to space systems. - **Nuclear-armed ASATs**: A potential shift towards nuclear-armed anti-satellite weapons could drastically increase the stakes, threatening massive disruption across military and civilian satellites globally. - **International Norms**: The deployment of such weapons would challenge existing space treaties and norms, necessitating a strong international response. - **Strategic Response**: The US must enhance the resilience of its space assets while rallying international opposition to the militarization of space. 🌐 **#SpaceSecurity #GeopoliticalStrategy #USForeignPolicy #InternationalRelations #SpaceTreaty #DefenseTechnology** For more detailed analysis, visit [Atlantic Council](https://lnkd.in/eDNNsMrk). ---
Russian nuclear anti-satellite weapons would require a firm US response, not hysteria
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org
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Military Space History #14: US Nuclear Bombardment Satellite, 1959 With space-based Russian nuclear weapons coming out in the news today, it must be time for another "Born Contested" historical post! In 1959, the United States studied the development of a "Nuclear Bombardment Satellite" -- a satellite-based delivery system for nuclear weapons. (Yes, this was before the UN Outer Space Treaty). Excerpt below is from the "Air Force System Development Program" or "SPADE I". This historical study is worth a cover-to-cover read by all space professionals! The full declassified study (136 pages) is available here: https://bit.ly/3RcbGAw (resolves to an nro.mil URL). #GuardianCulture #MilitarySpaceHistory #ProtectAndDefend #OurGrandparentsHaveBeenThereDoneThat U.S. Space Command, Space Operations Command, Space Systems Command
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The Fujian (18) has an estimated displacement of about 80,000 tons, while the USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78) has a displacement of around 100,000 tons, making it the largest aircraft carrier in the world. In terms of propulsion, Fujian (18) uses a conventional propulsion system, likely steam turbines, while the USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78) uses nuclear propulsion, offering virtually unlimited range. Both carriers feature electromagnetic catapult launch systems (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear, enhancing their air operations. The Fujian (18) can carry approximately 40 aircraft, while the USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78) can accommodate around 75, providing greater air combat and support capabilities.
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Director of Strategy and Strategic Communications , CORE-CSI/ Leader-Commander-Strategist -Air National Guard
Yes and no. Yes we have the technological capabilities to remove space based nuclear threats (at certain orbital altitudes) but we don't have the Celestial Eagle system deployed and AEGIS Standard Missiles could take time to adjust for satellite intercept like we did in 2008. I wrote in my second, less known book "Deterring the Unthinkable" that we should actively and publicly deploy a multi domain (air, land and sea based for coverage) ASAT capability based on the SM-3 and other similar systems as a proactive deterrent force for EMP and other nuclear threshold space attack threats. I'm not aware of anything like that being pursued and given the ban on kinetic ASAT testing, I'm not sure current policy leaders would go for it, despite the apparent need to defend the homeland and critical space infrastructure. That really should change and hopefully Congress will push the administration in that direction. National Institute for Deterrence Studies Global Security Review https://lnkd.in/eCGyB6sg
The US Military Already Has a Decades-Old Countermeasure for Russian Space Nukes
military.com
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Quoted in this piece in the Washington Times on a report by the China Aerospace Studies Institute on "space coercion" and the PRC's ideas on deterrence. I will emphasize that the mention of a nuclear weapon coming from space does not necessarily violate Article IV of the Outer Space Treaty. #spacelaw #deterrence #china #greatpowercompetition #nationalsecurity
China adopts ‘space coercion’ as strategic weapon in plan to attack U.S. satellites
washingtontimes.com
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