Missile Defence Conference 2016

This international conference is timely, allowing participants to look ahead to the NATO Warsaw Summit in July and to also discuss the implications of the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (SDSR).

Developing as both a political and military requirement, and against a perceived background of increasing threats, more states are acquiring ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities to deter against state and non-state actors.

The emerging security environment is politically charged, given a revanchist and truculent Russia, tumult in North Africa, the impact of Daesh and instability in the Middle East and North Korean belligerence. It seems rational and prudent for politicians to demand increased deterrence and resilience measures as part of a balanced force package to meet national defence requirements. Ballistic-missile systems, using advanced liquid- or solid-propellant technologies, are becoming more mobile, resilient, reliable, accurate and capable of striking targets and projecting military power at all ranges. With the technological problems associated with defensive systems outstripping both the cost and development timeline of ballistic missiles, effective BMD systems must be proactive and form part of a larger, multifaceted approach.

From a UK perspective and as recognised by the recent SDSR, the current proliferation and sophistication of ballistic missiles make the threat of a future ballistic-missile attack by state or non-state actors on UK territory, including the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and deployed British armed forces, a real and increasing possibility. A debate of UK options should consider the military requirements, costing the available options alongside the capabilities they deliver, as well as the political aspirations.

The seventeenth RUSI Missile Defence Conference is well placed to make a unique contribution to discussions on policy and capability requirements, and will explore the following themes:

• NATO BMD and Assessing the Relationship with Russia Ahead of the Warsaw Summit
• European Contributions to a NATO BMD Architecture and Operational Effectiveness
• United States Policy and Capability Developments  
• National Developments and Multilateral Efforts in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East Regions
• Land and Sea-based Options for National Systems (including Medium Powers’ Capacity for Theatre Missile Defence during Autonomous Operations)
• Strategic Stability and the Relationship between BMD and Nuclear Deterrence
• Current and Future Missile Threats
• Industry Perspectives and Technological Updates (Interoperability, Radar Systems, Data Sharing, Interceptor-Guidance and Propulsion Systems, Sensors and Communication Links).

 

Speakers include:

Robert Bell, Senior Civilian Representative of the Secretary of Defense in Europe and Defense Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO

Colonel Myeongguk Cheon, Research Fellow, Center for Security and Strategy, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses

Brigadier General Lutz Kohlhaus, Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, Training and Organization, German Air Force HQ

Dr Brad Roberts, Director, Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National      Laboratory

Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

Daisuke Seki, Deputy Director (BMD Policy), Ministry of Defense, Japan

Roberto Zadra, Head, Integrated Air and Missile Defence Section, NATO HQ

Dr Katarzyna Zysk, Associate Professor/Acting Dean, Norwegian Defence University College