US announces new missile defence system to counter threats from Russia, China

While Russia illegally occupies territory outside its borders, seeks to coerce and destabilise its neighbours, and flouts treaty obligations, China has adopted an increasingly assertive posture in disputes with its neighbours, many of whom are US allies or partners, the Pentagon said.

The US has announced a new missile defense policy aimed at addressing the challenges posed by Russia and China, which seeks to displace America in the Indo-Pacific region and has adopted an assertive posture in disputes over territorial boundaries with its neighbours.

In its ‘Missile Defense Review’ report released Thursday, the Pentagon said Russia and China were developing advanced cruise missiles and hypersonic missile capabilities that can travel at exceptional speeds with unpredictable flight paths which challenge the existing defensive systems.

These are challenging realities of the emerging missile threat environment that US missile defense policy, strategy, and capabilities must address, it said.

“While Russia and China pose separate challenges and are distinct in many ways, both are enhancing their existing offensive missile systems and developing advanced sea and air-launched cruise missiles as well as hypersonic capabilities,” Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said.

1m 6s

North Korea announces test of new long-range missile

North Korea has abruptly ended a 10-week pause in its weapons testing by launching a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that some observers believe could put Washington and the entire eastern coast of the US in range.

The report presents a comprehensive and layered approach to prevent and defeat adversary missile attacks through a combination of deterrence, active and passive missile defences, and attack operations to destroy offensive missiles prior to launch.

This comprehensive approach to missile defense strengthens America’s ability to protect the homeland, allies and partners and deters adversary threats and attacks, Shanahan said. It assures allies and partners, engages in diplomacy from a position of strength, hedges against future risk and preserves America’s freedom of action to conduct regional military operations in defense of its interests, Shanahan said.