Russia to build space-based system to detect missile launches

Russia will create a space-based ballistic missile warning system capable of detecting launches of inter-continental and tactical missiles, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"Creation of the unified space system is one of the key directions for the nuclear containment development, especially Russian nuclear deterrent forces," Shoigu told a teleconference with senior ministry officials.

Radar Station in Russia’s Kaliningrad Goes on Experimental Combat Duty

Russia has put the Kaliningrad early warning radar station on experimental combat duty, the press service of the Federal Agency for Special Construction (Spetsstroy) told RIA Novosti Monday.

“The Voronezh-DM missile attack early warning radar station located in Kaliningrad Region has gone on experimental combat duty. The state testing of the station will be conducted within three months, and upon completion it will be put on combat duty,” according to the press service.

US to bolster defences to counter N Korea ....

The US will deploy 14 additional ground-based defence missiles against the growing threat from North Korea, Chuck Hagel, the US defence secretary, has announced.
The interceptors will be based in Fort Greely, Alaska.
In addition, new radar capability will be installed in Japan to track any missiles fired by North Korea, Hagel said on Friday.
The US already has 30 interceptors in place in California and Alaska and the additional weaponry would be fielded by 2017, he said.
The move was designed to "stay ahead of the threat" posed by North Korea's advances in technology for an intercontinental ballistic missile, Hagel said.
The increase will represent a near 50-per-cent increase over the current programme of 30 interceptor facilities.

Japan considers disclosing evidence on China radar lock

The incident, which Japan said happened last week, marked the first time the two nations' navies have locked horns in a territorial dispute that has some commentators warning about possible armed conflict.
The neighbours -- also the world's second and third-largest economies -- have seen ties sour over uninhabited Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea known as Senkaku in Tokyo and Diaoyu by Beijing, which claims them.
"The government is considering the extent of what can be disclosed," Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said on a television programme Saturday.

China accuses Japan of stirring up tensions

China has accused Japan of tarnishing China’s image and ratcheting up tension, saying it runs against efforts to improve Sino-Japanese ties.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to the Japanese allegation that China’s use of fire-control radar to lock on to a Japanese fleet in East China Sea amounted to "threat of force".
Hua said at a regular briefing that Chinese authorities are verifying and investigating the incident. Hua Chunying stressed Japan is intentionally stirring up a crisis and causing tensions.