Deployment of Defense Shield in Australia

RubiconNZ

The Wanderer
With projected deployment of Missle Interceptor Silo's in Europe does anyone think that Australia should have some deployed for its own and South Pacific protection, depending on range (sorry I dont know it) it could also possibly protect Guam Thailand etc (solid US Allies) This thread will go in hand with a hypothetical situation to be put in Military Stratigies and Tactics section. But as Australia is providing some of the Radar capability for the Sheild, and Australia has nothing of its own (SM-3 on AWD would do it) what would the likelihood of Australia get say 6-10 silos with Interceptors. There has to be some discussion of it on some levels. Ideas? Statements?
 

Rich

Member
I cant imagine why anyone wouldn't want an ABM shield. The only logical reason would be if there is just no way the thing would work. With the ability of nations like Iran and NK to deliver nuclear warheads onto your cities you will be entering an era of your citizens living or dieing based on the whims of madmen.

Obviously Australia is protected under the Yank nuclear umbrella and the odds of such an attack are probably small. But history is a great wheel and who knows what kind of scenarios and emerging threats will appear in the next few decades?
 

Cootamundra

New Member
Australia is and will continue to be a willing partner in the US ABM shield. One would imagine that actual interceptors would be a possibility once the technology matures. However, I was not aware of the US ABM shield actually being in a position to place missle silos in Europe. In fact it was my understanding that the US had only just finished placing them in California and Alaska and that the large Radar required to track and guide the missles had only just made it around the Cape of Good Hope late last year. So what's your source for the comment about Europe?

In any case I can see a time when Australia is under a fully fledged ADM shield but I think it is a way off yet. Finally, Australia has no pressing need for the shield at this current point in time. Iran couldn't hit us if they tried and Nth Korea may be able to hit Japan but it couldn't get to any part of Aus that made sense - so no need for AUS ABM just yet.
 

RubiconNZ

The Wanderer
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  • #4
Hmm

Rats I read it a couple of days ago I will try to find it, if I recall right it wasnt till you know 2012 ish once all interceptors are in place in Alaska and California about 2010, I'll try and find it again today.
Alright found a similar one not the same and not as good.

US in talks over biggest missile defence site in Europe

Ian Traynor in Warsaw
Tuesday July 13, 2004

Guardian

The US administration is negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic over its controversial missile defence programme, with a view to positioning the biggest missile defence site outside the US in central Europe.
Polish government officials confirmed to the Guardian that talks have been going on with Washington for eight months and made clear that Poland was keen to take part in the project, which is supposed to shield the US and its allies from long-range ballistic missile attacks.

Senior officials in Prague also confirmed that talks were under way over the establishment of American advanced radar stations in the Czech Republic as part of the missile shield project.

"We're very interested in becoming a concrete part of the arrangement," said Boguslaw Majewski, the Polish foreign ministry spokesman. "We have been debating this with the Americans since the end of last year."

Other sources in Warsaw said Pentagon officers have been scouting the mountain territory of southern Poland, pinpointing suitable sites for two or three radar stations connected to the so-called Son of Star Wars programme.

As well as radar sites, the Poles say they want to host a missile interceptor site, a large reinforced underground silo from where long-range missiles would be launched to intercept and destroy incoming rockets.

Under Bush administration plans, two missile interceptor sites are being built in the US - one in California, the other in Alaska. Such a site in Poland would be the first outside America and the only one in Europe.

"An interceptor site would be more attractive. It wouldn't be a hard sell in Poland," said Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a former Polish defence minister.

"This is a serious runner," said a west European diplomat in Warsaw. "It's pretty substantial. The Poles are very keen to have an interceptor site. They want a physical American presence on their territory. They wouldn't be paying anything. It would be a totally American facility."

"I knew about possible radar sites, but I was surprised to hear talk about missile silos," said another source in Warsaw.

In the Czech Republic, too, the proposed radar site, extending to 100 sq km, could be declared extraterritorial and a sovereign US base.

The talks are at the exploratory stage and no decisions have been taken, officials stressed. US officials played down talk of central European participation in the missile shield. But the confidential nature of the negotiations, being led on the US side by John Bolton, the hardline under-secretary of state for arms control, has angered senior defence officials in the region, who have been kept in the dark.

Milos Titz, deputy chairman of the Czech parliament's defence and security committee, learned of the talks last week and immediately called the defence minister, Miroslav Kostelka, to demand an explanation. According to the Czech web newspaper, Britske Listy, Mr Kostelka conceded to Mr Titz that the talks were going ahead and promised to supply details to the committee this week.

The committee is to hold an extraordinary session today, apparently to demand more information on the issue from the government.

According to a Washington-based thinktank, the Arms Control Association, the Pentagon has already requested modest funding for preliminary studies on a third missile interceptor site based in Europe.

Lieutenant General Ronald Kadish, director of the Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency (MDA), told Congress this year of plans to construct a missile shield base abroad. "We are preparing to move forward when appropriate to build a third [ground-based interceptor] site at a location outside the United States," he said.

In addition to Poland and the Czech Republic, the Washington thinktank reported last week that the US was also talking to Hungary about possible involvement in the missile shield which is yet to be properly tested and which many experts believe is unworkable. Sources in Warsaw said the US was also talking to Romania and Bulgaria. Last week, the Australian government signed a 25-year pact with the US on cooperating in the missile shield programme.

The two interceptor sites being built in Alaska and California are primarily to insure against a potential ballistic missile attack on the US by North Korea. The possible European site is being widely seen as a shield against missiles from the Middle East, notably Syria or Iran.

But many believe that any such facility in Poland would be concerned mainly and in the long term with Russia. Such concerns appear to be reflected in Polish government thinking.

While the Poles were still waiting for specific proposals from the Americans, said Mr Majewski, they were also insisting that any Polish participation had to be squared first with Moscow for fear of creating military tension in the region.

"The Americans are working quite hard on this," he said. "They need to clear the path with the Russians and reach a consensus before we will move ahead."


Thats one I will try and find the good one I think it was either Defense Aerospace or one of the actual US Gov mil sites Ill keep looking>
 
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RubiconNZ

The Wanderer
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  • #5
K heres half my Source

The real interceptors in Alaska and California can be brought to alert status in an emergency, but are not yet fully operational, officials explained. An additional 11 interceptors are expected to be in place by the end of 2007, and a total of 38 by end of 2009
Steven Donald Smith, American Forces Press Service

That gave me operational details I'm still backtracking my details to find out the rest. But 2012-2015 Australia should have a good shot at doing it, I wonder if its worth it for the US would it PO the Chinese Government to much? Basically right on the doorstep?

Aha found it...
This year, the agency will complete installation of 22 interceptors in Alaska and California. By 2007, a second forward-based radar will be ready, high- and low-orbit surveillance satellites will make progress, and three Navy cruisers and seven destroyers will be equipped with 26 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) anti-missile systems, Obering said.

By the end of 2009, 38 ground-based interceptors will be operational and Greenland-based Thule radar will be available, he said. By 2010, 50 interceptors, including 10 in Europe and four forward-based radar, will be ready, and the Navy will operate 81 SM-3 systems, he said.

The agency is scouting for a third site in Europe to place interceptors, Obering said. Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary have expressed interest in hosting the site, but Obering would only say that Poland is one of the many being considered.
Got this from Air Force News
Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering III, USAF = Head of MDA


Thats where I got the "projected" bit. Whether it goes ahead I am not sure.
 

Rich

Member
Who cares what the Chinese think? The missiles are defensive weapons and its none of their business.
 

LancerMc

New Member
Currently the American missile defence plan is envisioned to protect it against small nations that pose a nuclear threat. The current planned system will not protect the U.S. and it allies against an all out nuclear exchange but the threat of the launching of a small number of missiles by countries like North Korea, or possible terrorist attack.

While China and Russia are concerned about the missile defence shield, the threat of a major nuclear exchange is rapidly declining.

Currently the program will place most of the sites in the U.S., but Japan has shown great interest in the program and signed on as a partner. The major reason is further aggression by North Korea.
 
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