United States:  Missile defense backers now cite Russia threat

U.S. outrage over Russia's invasion of Georgia could prompt Congress to speed up plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe.

As missile defense proponents push congressional Democrats to drop funding restrictions, however, they appear to be bolstering an argument made repeatedly by Moscow and rejected by Washington: that the true target of the system is Russia.

Missile Defense Elements Participate in Air Force Tests

Elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System successfully detected and tracked a long-range missile launched from California.

Missile defense talks to be concluded in September

The Czech Defense Ministry says it is expecting talks with the United States on a secondary missile defense treaty to be concluded next month. The Czech-US missile defense deal is based on two treaties. The Czech government has already approved the main bilateral treaty allowing the US to build a radar base near Prague. The second, "complementary," treaty deals such issues as taxes and the legal status of US soldiers to be deployed at the base.

US Remains Open to Dialogue With Moscow on Missile Defense

The Bush administration said Monday it remains open to dialogue with Moscow on U.S. European missile-defense plans despite Russia's angry response to the signing of a U.S.-Polish agreement on the issue last week. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Rood lamented Russia's threat to target Poland with nuclear weapons.

U.S.-manned Patriot missile base to be set up in Poland by 2012

A garrison of 100 U.S. military personnel will be based at an Army Patriot missile battery in Poland due to be established by 2012, a U.S. official said.

Czech, US agree on conditions to site radar: official

The Czech Republic and the United States have reached agreement on the conditions to set up a controversial US anti-missile base in the country, a defence ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

LockMart Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 124 Successful Test Launches In A Row

The U.S. Navy has conducted a successful test launch of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs) built by Lockheed Martin. The Navy launched the unarmed missiles from the submerged submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) in thePacific Ocean.

Aerojet THAAD Boost Motor Passes Final Qualification Test

Aerojet has announced that its boost motor passed the final qualification static test firing for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program. The THAAD program is managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and by prime contractor and systems integrator Lockheed Martin.

Russia:   Russia threatens military response to US missiles

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is warning his country may respond to a U.S. missile shield in Europe through military means.Medvedev says that the deployment of an anti-missile system close to Russian borders "will of course create additional tensions.""We will have to react somehow, to react, of course, in a military way," Medvedev was quoted as saying.

Russia long-range missile test a success

Russia successfully tested a long-range Topol missile designed to avoid detection by anti-missile defence systems from its Plesetsk launch site, a Russian military spokesman said on Thursday.

Taiwan:   Taiwan acquires Harpoon anti-ship missiles

Taiwan has acquired 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles from the United States in a boost of its defence against rival China, the defence ministry here said Thursday.

The missiles will be used by the air force's F-16 fighter jets, the ministry said, in a 90-million-dollar deal.