Iranian and Chinese satellites increase challenges to US military
Recent satellite program advancements by Iran and China has provided both nations with increased efficiency in missile guidance and real-time battlefield imagery. Satellite imagery provides both countries with a wealth of intelligence information, especially that of strategic military movement and infrastructures. Both nations hope to provide their armed forces with early warning systems as well as real-time target location to counter US technological superiority.
While both nations lack the expertise in developing an efficient space program on their own, Russia has stepped in to provide vital components. Iran's program is more dependent on the Russians who have purchased and launched a Russian-made Sina-1 satellite aboard a Russian Kosmos-3M booster rocket with a second satellite is slated to be launched in 2006. Iranian patience has run low with delays in their own research and development which has resulted in a decision to develop new satellites by the Reshetnev Research Centre in Russia. Iran claims that their satellites are designed to locate natural resources, however US intelligence is quick to point out the military capabilities of the Iranian space program in hopes to enhance the development of its long-range ballistic missile targeting systems.
Mounting evidence of an accelerating nuclear program is obvious with successful testing of the Islamic republics Shahab 5 missiles with a 2,000km range coupled with new satellite targeting capablities. Integration of these systems would put US military bases in Romania, Djibouti, Bahrain and Afghanistan in serious danger. If the US fails to counter Iran's recent advancements, it is quite possible that within a decade, Iran will have nuclear-tipped missiles with a range capable of strikes in Western Europe and North America itself.
While Iran's technological problems are mainly with missile guidance, China already has an effective system in place provided by satellites previously launched and has focused research and development to improvement of it's missile targeting systems by collecting data on military infrastructures and geographic information for it's purchase of Russian-made submarine launched missiles as well as its Land Attack Cruise Missile development. China’s development of strategic LACM may have been assisted by Russian and Ukrainian technologies and would be significantly more effective used against US naval operations with integrated satellite systems upgraded from it's use of the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system .
China's military space programme includes at least one dedicated military telecommunications satellite, two civilian/military telecommunications satellites, one imagery intelligence satellite, one maritime surveillance satellite, and two experimental navigation and positioning satellites. In addition, China has taken part in the EU's Galileo Satellite Network, which is currently under development as an alternative to the US Global Position System (GPS), which it uses to reduce it's missile targeting program costs. The acquisition of modern command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems is one of the key aspects of China’s military modernisation which it also recieves assistance from Russia. China's modernasation of it's military satellite program puts US bases in Japan, Guam, the Marshall Islands and the US western coast at an increased risk of ballistic missile strikes.
While both nations lack the expertise in developing an efficient space program on their own, Russia has stepped in to provide vital components. Iran's program is more dependent on the Russians who have purchased and launched a Russian-made Sina-1 satellite aboard a Russian Kosmos-3M booster rocket with a second satellite is slated to be launched in 2006. Iranian patience has run low with delays in their own research and development which has resulted in a decision to develop new satellites by the Reshetnev Research Centre in Russia. Iran claims that their satellites are designed to locate natural resources, however US intelligence is quick to point out the military capabilities of the Iranian space program in hopes to enhance the development of its long-range ballistic missile targeting systems.
Mounting evidence of an accelerating nuclear program is obvious with successful testing of the Islamic republics Shahab 5 missiles with a 2,000km range coupled with new satellite targeting capablities. Integration of these systems would put US military bases in Romania, Djibouti, Bahrain and Afghanistan in serious danger. If the US fails to counter Iran's recent advancements, it is quite possible that within a decade, Iran will have nuclear-tipped missiles with a range capable of strikes in Western Europe and North America itself.
While Iran's technological problems are mainly with missile guidance, China already has an effective system in place provided by satellites previously launched and has focused research and development to improvement of it's missile targeting systems by collecting data on military infrastructures and geographic information for it's purchase of Russian-made submarine launched missiles as well as its Land Attack Cruise Missile development. China’s development of strategic LACM may have been assisted by Russian and Ukrainian technologies and would be significantly more effective used against US naval operations with integrated satellite systems upgraded from it's use of the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system .
China's military space programme includes at least one dedicated military telecommunications satellite, two civilian/military telecommunications satellites, one imagery intelligence satellite, one maritime surveillance satellite, and two experimental navigation and positioning satellites. In addition, China has taken part in the EU's Galileo Satellite Network, which is currently under development as an alternative to the US Global Position System (GPS), which it uses to reduce it's missile targeting program costs. The acquisition of modern command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems is one of the key aspects of China’s military modernisation which it also recieves assistance from Russia. China's modernasation of it's military satellite program puts US bases in Japan, Guam, the Marshall Islands and the US western coast at an increased risk of ballistic missile strikes.
posted by Marko at 12/14/2005 11:42:00 AM
<< Home