Snow Leopard Financial Group’s Post

09/19/2024 World Exclusive: US keeps missile system in Philippines as China tensions rise September 19, 20248:51 AM GMT+2Updated 2 hours ago MANILA, Sept 19 - The United States has no immediate plans to withdraw a mid-range missile system deployed in the Philippines, despite Chinese demands, and is testing the feasibility of its use in a regional conflict, sources with knowledge of the matter told a reporter. The Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, was brought in for joint exercises earlier this year, both countries said at the time, but has remained there. The Southeast Asian archipelago, Taiwan's neighbour to the South, is an important part of U.S. strategy in Asia and would be an indispensable staging point for the military to aid Taipei in the event of a Chinese attack. China and Russia condemned the move – the first deployment of the system to the Indo-Pacific – and accused Washington of fueling an arms race. The deployment, some details of which have not been previously reported, comes as China and U.S. defence treaty ally the Philippines clash over parts of the hotly contested South China Sea. Recent months have brought a series of sea and air confrontations in the strategic waterway. Philippine officials said Filipino and U.S forces continued to train with the missile system, which is in northern Luzon, which faces the South China Sea and is close to the Taiwan Strait, and they were not aware of immediate plans to return it, even though the joint exercises end this month. A Philippine army spokesman, Colonel Louie Dema-ala, told Reuters on Wednesday that training was ongoing and it was up to the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) to decide how long the missile system would stay. Page 1 continue  A view of the Typhon missile system at Laoag International Airport, in Laoag, Philippines, September 18, 2024, in this satellite image. 2024 Planet Labs Inc./Handout

ROK-US alliance does not have #missiledefense system to counter #NorthKorea's #hypersonic missile threats. "This photo released on Monday by North Korea's state media shows what Pyongyang claims is a solid-fuel hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile being launched from an undisclosed location in the North the previous day. "Kim Jong-un threatened to "annihilate" South Korea and the United States, its key ally, if they attempt to challenge Pyongyang's sovereignty by force." "But a typical IRBM is capable of traveling 3,000-5,500 kilometers. This means one fired from the North could reach anywhere in the South as well as U.S. military bases in Guam or Japan at five times the speed of sound. If the claim is true, a hypersonic missile fired from the North Korean capital could strike a target in Seoul in just about a minute." "The latest launch has sent alarm bells ringing in South Korea as there is currently no system in place to intercept such missiles, according to experts." "Hypersonic missiles test-fired in 2022 and 2023 were liquid-fuel types that traveled up to 10 times the speed of sound. Analysts said North Korea appears to have been increasingly shifting to solid-fuel missiles with the aim of undermining ― and ultimately incapacitating ― South Korea and the U.S.' capability to detect and defend against missile threats." Related analysis: https://lnkd.in/eXF3wSsY #Korea #hypersonicmissiles #airdefence https://lnkd.in/eRdS4hys

Iran allegedly provided Russian occupiers with around 400 ballistic missiles. They are capable of destroying targets up to 700 km away, according to Reuters. Three unnamed Iranian sources told the media outlet that part of the transferred missiles are from the Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile family, including the Zolfaghar. Such a missile is capable of destroying targets at distances ranging from 300 to 700 kilometers. As one of the Iranian sources revealed, the deliveries began in early January after an agreement was reached at meetings between Iranian and Russian military and security service representatives at the end of last year. These meetings took place in Tehran and Moscow. Another unnamed Iranian military official clarified that there have already been at least four deliveries of missiles. A new transfer is expected next week. Another official stated that some of the missiles were sent to Russia by ship via the Caspian Sea, while others were transported by plane. "There will be more shipments. There is no reason to hide this. We are allowed to export weapons to any country that we wish to," he added. An #American official informed Reuters that #Washington has seen evidence of active negotiations between Russia and Iran, but there are no signs yet that the deliveries have taken place. Background Rumors that Russia wants to obtain Iranian ballistic missiles spread as early as last year. The information emerged against the backdrop of the active supply of Iranian drones Shahed to Russian occupiers. Recently, Russian soldiers have been using such drones almost daily to strike #Ukraine. In January of this year, the The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations between Russia and Iran regarding long-range missiles were actively progressing. Journalists speculated that deliveries could begin as early as spring. For more details on Iranian missiles for Russia, you can read the material from RBC-Ukraine. https://lnkd.in/dTMzP4DZ

Russia pre-emptively plans intermediate-range missile sites to counter US moves — diplomat Correspondingly, specialists are carrying out preliminary pre-emptive planning, Sergey Ryabkov said MOSCOW, May 9/ Russian specialists are pre-emptively planning deployment sites of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in response to US moves for deploying such weapons, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday. "Undoubtedly, depending on the situation, as was stressed on many occasions, upon the emergence of similar US-made systems in any region of the world, and in this case, we look, first of all, at Europe and the Asia-Pacific region," the senior Russian diplomat said. "We will carry out our deployment in a way to effectively counter these new threats. Correspondingly, specialists are carrying out preliminary pre-emptive planning," Ryabkov said, commenting on the preparation of potential sites for deploying Russian intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in response to US destabilizing moves. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that Moscow reserved the right to a tit-for-tat response to the deployment of US-made ground-based intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in any part of the world, which would signify "the cessation of the unilateral Russian moratorium on deploying such weapons." The ministry noted that the United States had openly embarked on the path of deploying ground-based systems with intermediate- and shorter-range missiles, which were earlier banned by the corresponding treaty, in various regions. In response to such US moves, Russia is stepping up the upgrade and starting the production of similar missile systems, the ministry said. #business #finance #financialservices

West should consider Russia’s signal on weapons, no point in discussing details — MFA Maria Zakharova underscored that Russia's response to deployments of missile systems by the West that create additional threats to Russia could involve both tit-for-tat and asymmetric countermeasures MOSCOW, November 27/ The collective West should just heed Moscow’s signals regarding the intermediate-and shorter-range missiles, as there is no point in discussing the details of their possible deployment now, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing. "At this stage, there is no need to delve into detailed discussions about how and where Russia might deploy intermediate-and shorter-range missiles, as this pertains to strategy and tactics outlined in relevant statements by the president and the deputy foreign minister," the diplomat stated. "The military-political signal was very clear — we conveyed it to both the United States and its allies, who have taken practical steps toward preparing for the deployment and placement of intermediate-and shorter-range missiles in various regions of the world," the diplomat stated. "I believe they should focus on the signal, the message that we sent," she continued. Zakharova emphasized that the essence of Russia's warnings is straightforward: "Regardless of the geography of such deployments [of missile systems by the West], which create additional missile threats to Russia," Moscow will respond "in the most decisive way." She underscored that this response could involve both tit-for-tat and asymmetric countermeasures. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that the United States and its NATO allies had announced their decision to grant Kiev permission to use long-range high-precision weapons, following which US-and UK-made missiles attacked Russian military sites in the Kursk and Bryansk Regions. In response to these attacks, Russia test-launched the latest Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missiles with conventional warheads against Ukraine’s major Yuzhmash defense enterprise in Dnepr (formerly Dnepropetrovsk), Putin elaborated. The Russian leader stressed that the West’s inflammatory actions might trigger serious consequences if the Ukraine conflict escalates further. #business #finance #financialservices

Extremely concerning development... "Iran's provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles)." "The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalized in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow, one of the Iranian sources said." I raised this concern repeatedly since talks began in mid-2022, the latest forewarning was in T-Intelligence's 2024 look ahead: "Iran: Risk of ballistic missile transfers given official completion of Su-35 deal." Iran basically doesn't care how this is perceived. Tehran will probably deny the transfer, as it did when Shahed-136s appeared over Kyiv. Or maybe they'll take pride in the misssiles' destructive ability... Russia can finally augment Iskanders and poorer quality North Korean KN-23/24 with tried and tested Iranian BMs. The mass casualty and high destruction capabilities of these missiles, if deployed in large numbers, pose a severe threat, especially if Patriots are overwhelmed/depleted of ammo by saturation strikes... There is literally NO REASON for the U.S. and Germany to withhold a widescale ATACMS and Taurus transfer. Give them to Ukraine. And give them without targeting restrictions. https://lnkd.in/epUJEz_T

22 OCT 2024: #NorthKorea launches at least 10 short-range ballistic missiles into #SeaofJapan, following failed attempt to put a second spy #satellite into orbit. The missiles traveled around 350km and were condemned by #Japan and #SouthKorea, with the latter calling it a “clear provocation” that endangers regional stability. #Pyongyang asserts its right to test missiles, citing perceived threats from #Washington and its allies. Tensions have risen amid increased weapons tests and joint military drills by the #US, #Japan, and #SouthKorea. https://lnkd.in/guznUdqX

Missile system deployments in Ukraine's fight for survival are front page news. The words describing these systems can be misleading to those who are not familiar with missiles in modern warfare. The "long range" missile systems that the US and the UK have provided to the Ukrainians are TACTICAL battlefield or battle-theater weapons. ATACMS is the acronym for Army Tactical Missile System. Its maximum strike range is ≈ 190 miles. Britain's Storm Shadow is similar and has a maximum range of ≈ 155 miles. The "Oreshnik" Missile fired by Russia into Ukraine is described as an IRBM, Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, in the category of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, with an "intermediate range" of approximately 2000-3000 miles. Missiles of this range are capable of being launched in Asia (Russia) and striking Western Europe. They are designed for STRATEGIC missions but can be used (uneconomically) for tactical battlefield situations. Keeping those numbers in mind, I encourage you to look at a map of Europe and Asia. Russia extends approximately 1500 miles North to South and 5600 miles East to West. Russia has forcibly occupied over 100 miles of Ukraine across the entire North to South extent of the country. Thus the question ... Is there any threat to Russian territory or sovereignty from the US-UK weapons being used by Ukraine for its self-defense?  In fact, the weapons can just barely reach Russian territory, and if WSJ reporting is accurate, Russia has moved most legitimate military targets out of range. Just as one needs to reference a globe or a world map to dispel Russian propaganda about Ukrainian threats, one also needs to change calendar settings from months to decades to view the Russia invasion in full context. Putin's plan to quickly subjugate Ukraine failed. Ukraine is being systematically destroyed while Russia is sacrificing thousands of troops for what should be at best (for Russia) a Pyrrhic victory. Ukraine, with a much smaller population and GDP cannot decisively prevail. It can, however, outlast its invader with nationalist willpower. Afghanis and Vietnamese have fended off invaders this way for thousands of years. The national honor of the US and UK is at stake in Ukraine. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum they gave assurances to protect Ukraine's borders and sovereignty. The UK hasn't shirked its obligations. Perhaps experience from its Great Game rivalry with the Russians inspires self-confidence. The US has technically honored its commitments but done so fecklessly.  We have refused to provide weapons when they could have been decisive, and then provided them when they are at best marginally effective. The outcome in Ukraine is important to the United States' long-term security and standard of living.  We need to lead more decisively and more effectively, not walk away.  We can't change past events, and we won't get all that we like.  But if we give Putin what he wants now, he will soon demand far more.  

#Iran / #Israel - As Iran threatens Israel, the danger of Tehran’s long-vaunted missile program remains in question - from The Associated Press: As Iran threatens to attack Israel over the assassination of a Hamas leader in the Iranian capital, its long-vaunted missile program offers one of the few ways for Tehran to strike back directly, but questions loom over just how much of a danger it poses. The program was behind Iran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel in April, when Iran became the first nation to launch such a barrage since Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein lobbed Scud missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War. But few of the Iranian projectiles reached their targets. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed while in flight. Even those that reached Israel appeared to miss their marks. Now a new report by experts shared exclusively with The Associated Press suggests one of Tehran’s most advanced missiles is far less accurate than previously thought. The April assault showed “some ability to strike Israel,” said Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies who worked on the analysis. But “if I were supreme leader, I would probably be a little disappointed.” If Iranian missiles are not able to hit targets precisely “that recasts their role,” Lair added. “They’re no longer as valuable for conducting conventional military operations. They may be more valuable simply as terror weapons.” As an example, he recalled the harassing missile fire seen on cities in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, when Iran could fire a variety of missiles at a large city and hope some got through. Iran has repeatedly said it will retaliate for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh. Israel is widely suspected of carrying out the assassination, though it has not claimed it. The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tacitly acknowledged the country’s failure to strike anything of importance in Israel. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/eGe6W3rq