Pyongyang's missile test may play into Seoul politics

Headline NORTH KOREA: Missile test may affect politics in Seoul

Missile test is shift in Russian space militarisation

Headline RUSSIA: Missile test is shift in space militarisation

Pyongyang's missile test will spur regional arms race

Headline NORTH KOREA: Missile test will spur regional arms race

Sensitivity Analysis and Flight Tests Results for a Vertical Cold Launch Missile System

In vertical cold launch the missile starts without the function of the main engine. Over the launcher, the attitude of the missile is controlled by a set of lateral thrusters. However, a quick turn might be disturbed by various uncertainties. This study discusses the problem of the influences of disturbances and the repeatability of lateral thrusters’ ignition on the pitch maneuver quality. The generic 152.4 mm projectile equipped in small, solid propellant lateral thrusters was used as a test platform. A six degree of freedom mathematical model was developed to execute the Monte-Carlo simulations of the launch phase and to prepare the flight test campaign. The parametric analysis was performed to investigate the influence of system uncertainties on quick turn repeatability. A series of ground laboratory trials was accomplished. Thirteen flight tests were completed on the missile test range. The flight parameters were measured using an onboard inertial measurement unit and a ground vision system. It was experimentally proved that the cold vertical launch maneuver could be realized properly with at least two lateral motors. It was found that the initial roll rate of the projectile and the lateral thrusters ‘igniters’ uncertainties could affect the pitch angle achieved and must be minimized to reduce the projectile dispersion.

Potential of Multi constellation Global Navigation Satellite System in Indian Missile Test Range Applications

In this paper, the potentials of using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques in the complex calibration procedure of the tracking sensors for missile test range applications have been presented. The frequently used tracking sensors in test range applications are- electro-optical tracking stations (EOTS) and tracking radars. Over the years, the EOTS are used as the reference for bias estimation of the radars. With the introduction of GPS in test range applications, especially the DGPS, the reference for bias estimation got shifted to DGPS from the EOTS. However, the achievable position solution accuracy is limited to the order of a few meters for DGPS, EOTS, and Radars. With the evolution of Multi-constellation GNSS and carrier-phase based measurement techniques in satellite navigation, achievable position solution accuracies may be improved to sub-meter level. New navigation techniques like real time kinematic (RTK) and precise point positioning have the potentials for use in the calibration procedures of the missile test ranges to the accuracies of centimeter-level. Moreover, because of the availability of a large number of navigation signals over the Indian region, multi-constellation GNSS receivers can enhance signal availability, reliability, and accuracies during the calibration of missile test ranges. Currently available compact, low-cost GNSS modules also offer the possibilities of using these for cost-effective, networked RTK for dynamic calibration of test ranges reducing cost and resource requirements.

A contrastive analysis of reports on North Korea’s missile program

The paper compares the representation of the November 2017 missile test in news reports by The New York Times and China Daily. The U.S. reports embody to some extent a Cold War mindset by tending to internationalize the issue and make itself appear as a victim of the crisis. Through the attribution of blame, the U.S. seeks to evade its responsibilities and maintain its hegemonic status. The Chinese reports intimate that the crisis is mainly a problem between the U.S. and the Korean Peninsula. These reports tend to present China as a responsible stakeholder seeking to help solve the issue through communication and dialogue. The analysis of these differences is informed theoretically by perceived differences in culture. The paper concludes that the discourse patterns of these reports index a rising China and a shift in the balance of power in international politics.