MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS April 18th - 24th, 2023 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, April 18, China declared a navigation warning in the Yellow Sea while 12 Chinese military aircraft and four ships were detected around Taiwan from Monday to Tuesday (April 17-18).The Shandong Maritime Safety Administration on Monday evening (April 17) issued a navigation warning stating that "major military activities" would be conducted in the Yellow Sea from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday (April 18). It stated that navigation in the designated area during this time period would be prohibited but did not specify what military activities would be carried out. On Wednesday, April 19, Ukraine shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) sparked a fire in Ukraine's southern Odessa region. Russian forces attacked using the Shahed-136 and smaller Shahed-131 drones from the south overnight, Ukraine's Air Force Command said in a statement on Wednesday. Ukraine's Air Command "South" destroyed 10 out the 12 launched drones, it claimed. Writing on Telegram, Ukrainian authorities in Odessa said an infrastructure facility was hit during the attacks, publishing dramatic images of firefighters combating the blaze. On Thursday April 20, it was reported that Russian Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, on Wednesday threatened to arm North Korea if South Korea agrees to provide lethal aid to Ukraine. Medvedev’s comments came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that the Asian nation might be open to providing more than just economic and humanitarian aid to Kyiv after refusing to do so for more than a year following Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Also on Thursday, it was reported that Israel is in advanced negotiations with Germany to sell its Arrow-3 missile defense system, Israel's Defense Ministry said on Thursday. Germany has ramped up its military spending - a decision prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Arrow-3 is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the earth’s atmosphere. It is the top layer of Israel's missile defense array, which extends from Iron Dome that intercepts short-range rockets to Arrow-3's long-range missiles that destroy any non-conventional warheads at a safe altitude. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS 8 Seconds "The PLA continues the largest, fastest, most comprehensive military buildup since World War II in both the conventional and strategic nuclear domains. In spite of economic and manufacturing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the accelerated pace at which the PLA has added advanced capabilities is concerning. In 2022 alone, the PLA added to its operational inventory 17 major warships, including four guided missile cruisers, three destroyers, five frigates, two attack submarines..." Click here to read more. Topic of the Day: Missile Defense "Earlier this week the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces under the new leadership of Rep Doug Lamborn and Rep Seth Moulton in engagement and heard testimony from our military and government leaders on Missile Defense. Included are highlights of the discussion..." 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 Sergeant Domingo Cortes SGT Cortes enlisted into the Puerto Rico National Guard in June 2010 as a 31B Military Police. After Completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, SGT Domingo Cortes First duty station was the 240th Military Police Company at Fort Allen, Juana Diaz Puerto Rico. He served as a traditional Guardsman from December 2010 to October 2016. SGT Domingo Cortes IST to the Alaska National Guard in October 2016, as he was accepted on the AGR program with the MP GBI Security Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion, at Fort Greely, Alaska. SGT Cortes served in multiple positions with the MP GBI Security Company. Assignments included as a Military Police Team Member from October 2016 to November 2018, He got promoted in November 2018 to Sergeant and served as a Military Police Team Leader. While being with the MP GBI he served as the Platoon Armorer for 4 years, He also helped train the 1st and 2nd rotations of Augmentation Forces from California National Guard helping them contribute to the battalion achieving a “T” rating on all evaluations conducted while being attached to the MP GBI Security Company. SGT Domingo Cortes was reassigned in October 2022 to HHB 49th Missile Defense Battalion and is currently training to be an FDC Crew Member at Fort Greely. SGT Cortes’s military education include: Combat Life Saver, Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Unit UPL, Vindicator Command and Control Operator Course, Ground Surveillance Radar Operator Course, Drone Buster Operator Course, Corian System Training Course, AN/TIC-44 Acoustic Hailing Device Training, and GFC Qualification Course. His awards include Army Achievement Medal (2), Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Driver and Mechanic Badge-Wheeled Vehicle, and Washington D.C. National Guard Community Service Ribbon. SGT Cortes is married to his beautiful wife Viviana for over 13 years and permanently resides in Delta Junction with their children Alanis, Yahir and Jacob. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 Alaska Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS 'A dream’: Patriot systems arrive in Ukraine - POLITICO - 04/19/2023 US seeks to boost missile defenses against evolving North Korean threats - NK News - 04/20/2023 Air defense top priority for Ukraine Contact Group amid leak revealing missile stockpiles running out - Breaking Defense - 04/21/2023 THREAT NEWS Iran unveils new drones, missile systems - MEHR News Agency - 04/18/2023 China's foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China - Reuters - 04/20/2023 Russian arms sales to India stall due to fears over US sanctions - The Economic Times - 04/21/2023 OTHER NEWS Kim Jung Un says North Korea's spy satellite is ready for launch - NBC News - 04/19/2023 Latvia to send all its Stinger MANPADs to Ukraine - The EuroMaidan Press - 04/21/2023  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!