BALLISTIC!

GCC- wide Ballistic Missile Defence Early Warning System is coming

DT News Network 

Manama 

The recently concluded Camp David Meet may have ended on a positive note. However, it is now clear the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) nations wanted something tangible to stop the Iranian aggression. 

This became evident when the GCC nations committed to develop a region-wide ballistic missile defence capability during the recently concluded Camp David Summit. 

During the high profile summit, which saw Obama assuring his country’s “iron-clad protection” the GCC nations threatened by Iran’s expansionist policy had also committed to develop a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. 

The Obama administration confirmed the development and said US would help conduct a study of GCC ballistic missile defence architecture to dispel the fears stemming from Iran’s growing stature. 

The US would also offer technical assistance in developing a GCC-wide Ballistic Missile Early Warning System though experts in the field opine that development of such a defence system would take years. 

They, however, conceded that an integrated defence system would help repel Iranian attack stitching together their radars and interceptors to counter a range of different missiles. 

The system, it’s believed, would use US early-warning satellites and a mix of US and Gulf radars to detect the launch of an enemy missile and fire a ground or sea-based missile to destroy it far above the earth. 

Lockheed Martin Corp, Raytheon Co and Northrop Grumman Corp would be the key contenders to build a central command-and-control system for the shield. Reports suggest, they already do similar work for the US military and key allies. 

The GCC nations’ missile programme, however, has its challenges; the biggest being securing a broad agreement on the rules dealing with any threats. 

“You have to work out the entire engagement structure before the first missile is ever launched,” opined Anthony Cordesman, said a senior analyst with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.