The role of missile warfare in the ongoing fighting in Yemen is easy to overlook in the context of the ISIL threat to peace, the presence of al-Qaeda and ISIL militants in Yemen, the humanitarian crisis in this Arabian Peninsula conflict, and “high end” missile threats. Detailed analysis of the role of missiles in the conflict over Yemen yields findings and implications regarding “lower end” conflict scenarios involving long-range rocket, and conventional ballistic or anti-ship cruise missile use by irregular, hybrid, or state adversaries.
Denmark: Onboard with NATO Missile Defense?
The ship is also equipped with Lockheed Martin’s MK 41 strike version vertical launch system (VLS) which can operate a variety of missile systems like the SM-2 Block IIIA and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles for air defense. In addition, the MK 41 Launcher, also found on U.S. Aegis BMD ships, is capable of firing ballistic missile interceptors such as the SM-3. This capability coupled with an upgraded radar could one day make for a very formidable ballistic missile defense ship to help share the burden with American Aegis BMD ships deployed to Rota, Spain as part of the NATO BMD mission.
Missile Defense’s Role in Nonproliferation
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has recently grabbed all of the nonproliferation headlines, but these types of agreements have proven historically an insufficient means of accomplishing their goals on their own. The paradox that plagues nonproliferation efforts that rely solely on JCPOA-style international agreements is that the countries these agreements seek to influence …
Supporting Strategic Patience
In February of 2015, President Barack Obama released his second National Security Strategy. In this document, he discussed the value of “strategic patience” in responding to the myriad threats facing the United States. This policy statement was panned widely by opponents of the administration, including allegations that the President’s document failed to even present a …
Strengthening the Umbrella
Separated from any major military powers by two expansive oceans, the United States holds an unprecedented security advantage in great power competition. However, this does not imply, as the increasingly isolationist American public would suggest, that the United States should reign in its international commitments and be content to let each region sort out its …
Missile Defense Review 