US Racing To Shield Indo-Pacific Bases From China's Missiles

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US urgency to fortify its Pacific bases with advanced defenses and establish backup facilities is underscored by rising missile threats from China and North Korea.

A June 2023 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that US military bases in the Pacific, particularly those located west of the International Date Line, face significant threats from China and North Korea, both of which possess increasingly advanced missile capabilities.

The CRS report notes China's development of conventional and nuclear-armed ballistic and hypersonic missiles poses a substantial risk to US forces and infrastructure in the region.

It says that these missiles, coupled with sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, enhance China's ability to target US bases with precision, especially those within the First and Second Island Chains, including key locations in Japan, South Korea and Guam.

It also notes that North Korea continues to expand its missile capabilities, further exacerbating the threat to US forces. US efforts underway to fortify Guam and expand its Pacific base infrastructure are crucial steps against these sophisticated adversarial capabilities.

This month, Defense News reported that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is gearing up for a pivotal test later this year to deploy an initial defense system designed to shield Guam from air and missile threats.

Defense News says Lieutenant General Heath Collins, MDA's director, revealed plans to integrate a new radar, the AN/TPY-6, into a comprehensive defense architecture against rising threats from China and North Korea.

The report mentions that the radar's first panel is en route to Guam for a December flight experiment and that it will track a target launched from a C-17 aircraft, followed by an SM-3 Block IIA interceptor launch.

The Defense News report also says the AN/TPY-6 leverages Alaska's Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) technology, marking a collaborative effort with the US Army, which took charge of the acquisition and execution plan in 2023.

Defense News says this initiative leverages MDA's current focus on unifying systems through the Joint Tactical Integrated Fire Control (JTIFC) standard. It notes that a combined command center is also in the works, aiming to consolidate major missile defense command and control systems.

Asia Times reported in August 2023 that the US military plans to implement the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (EIAMD) system, comprising a network of surface-to-air interceptors, radars and other components.

The EIAMD will feature a multi-layered architecture including Aegis Ashore, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Typhon, Patriot and Enduring Shield systems, designed to protect Guam in a 360-degree arc.

This comprehensive defense setup aims to address the challenges posed by advanced ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missile threats. The initiative also includes deploying next-gen infrared seekers for the THAAD, enhancing its sensing and guidance capabilities.

Asia Times reported in June 2022 that the US has embarked on a significant construction project on Tinian, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands, to establish a backup facility for its naval and air operations currently based in Guam.

This development, revealed through satellite images, comes amid growing concerns over Guam's susceptibility to Chinese or North Korean missile attacks.

The strategic initiative, with an earmarked budget of US$162 million, includes a new aircraft taxiway and parking apron at Tinian International Airport. It is expected to be completed in October 2025.