MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS April 11th - 17th, 2023 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Monday, April 10, it was reported that both a U.S. and a Chinese carrier strike group were operating near Taiwan as political tensions continue to simmer following a Taiwanese presidential meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group was operating in the vicinity of Taiwan in the Philippine Sea, according to the USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker. USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is also operating in the Philippine Sea following a series of exercises with Japanese and Koreans with Exercise Ssang 2023. On Thursday, April 13, North Korea conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month. According to KCNA, the test was a new solid-fuel ICBM, the Hwasong-18, which was first unveiled during a military parade in February. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter, indicating its vigilance over North Korea’s evolving missile threats. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his calls on North Korea to comply with U.N. resolutions banning such launches, reopen communications channels, and resume dialogue toward peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, his spokesman said. . Also on Thursday, the Russian government approved an agreement signed back in 2022 on the establishment of a common regional air defense system with Kyrgyzstan. While the agreement has long been in the works, the timing of Moscow’s procedural step has drawn attention, given the war in Ukraine and the precarious neutrality of Central Asia. On Friday, April 14, it was reported that China has tested and deployed a new longer-range hypersonic missile that is probably able to evade U.S. defenses, according to an overlooked top-secret document among those recently leaked. Now, the public can see what the American intelligence community already knew: China is quickly improving its capacity to strike thousands of miles from its shores and prevent the United States from intervening. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Non Stop Since 1998 "25 years ago, on August 31, 1998, a North Korean Taepodong-1 ballistic missile flew over Japan, landing in the country’s east coast in the Pacific, 300 miles east of the island of Honshu, the largest and most populous Japanese island in the country’s center..." Click here to read more. Get Real and Get Better "Today, it’s super special because this is about champions, but this is about world champions and you’re world champions and you’re relevant. If you look what just happened this weekend, China had 12 warships, including their new carrier..." Click here to read more. Shoulder to Shoulder "Over the Easter weekend in the Taiwan Straits, China showcased its air and maritime power. The operational design for this military demonstration was a mission rehearsal for the unlawful aggression toward and blockade of Taiwan..." Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Ukrainian War Updates Track the number and type of missiles used in the Ukrainian war, the number of casualties, and daily news highlights. Track updates on the conflict in Ukraine. Taiwan Incursion Updates Track the number and type of incursions in the Taiwan Strait, the number of missiles fired, aircraft crossing the ADIZ, and daily news highlights. Track updates on the tensions in the Taiwan Strait. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Captain Lee Dockery Capt Dockery is the Chief, Weapons and Tactics for the 213th SWS, at Clear SFS, Alaska. He oversees the daily mission accomplishment of ballistic missile early warning and space domain awareness. While on duty in the MWOC he acts as the 13SWS and 213SWS Commander’s representative. Capt Dockery spearheaded incorporating vital intelligence into real-world training scenarios, preparing all missile warning operations center crews for an anti-satellite (ASAT) event. He has also collected measure and signature intelligence for a counter space weapons launch, ultimately transmitting data to the National Space Defense Center (NSDC) and the 18 Space Control Squadron (18 SPCS), ultimately confirming a counter space threat. Capt Dockery oversaw and conducted over 2000 hours of Upgraded Early Warning Radar mission qualification training for 9 total force members, increasing Combat Mission Readiness by 40%. He has served in both Active Duty and the Alaska Air National Guard at Nellis AFB, Eielson AFB, Alaska, and Clear SFS, Alaska. Prior to his current position, Capt Dockery was the Chief, Operations Training, 213 SWS, Clear SFS, AK. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from ECPI College, Virginia Beach and an Associate Degree in Aviation Electronics and Space Systems from Community College of the Air Force. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 Alaska Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Japan signs $2.8 billion deals for long-range missile development - Defense News - 04/11/2023 Ukraine needs missile defense to prevent Russia from using guided bombs - Ukrinform - 04/11/2023 Ukraine Asks Spain for Air Defense, Weapons - The Defense Post - 04/12/2023 Why Experts Are Growing Alarmed About Ukraine's Air Defenses - Time Magazine - 04/13/2023 Israel’s army reinforcing Iron Dome air defense system nationwide - i24 News - 04/13/2023 THREAT NEWS Russia Nears End Of Development Of High-Speed Air-Launched Missile - Aviation Week - 04/10/2023 Russia Says Ramping Up Border Defense as Finland Enters NATO - The Moscow Times - 04/11/ 2023 North Korea’s Kim calls for ‘practical, offensive’ war deterrence - Al Jazeera - 04/11/2023 Putin launches 'new intercontinental ballistic missile' as he oversees test weeks after suspending last nuclear arms control treaty - Daily Mail - 04/12/2023 North Korea says it tested new solid-fuel ICBM, warns of 'extreme' horror - Reuters - 04/14/2023 OTHER NEWS Japan to Supply Nonlethal Military Aid to 'Like-Minded' Nations in Region - VOA - 04/13/2023 US warship sails through Taiwan Strait following China war games - Reuters - 04/17/2023  Stay Connected: MDAA | 515 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!