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On Tuesday, May 16, it was reported that South Korea is set to take part in the Nimble Titan 24, a multinational missile defense exercise to be held in Australia this week. According to the government and military authorities on Monday, about 130 personnel from South Korea, Japan, and 25 other countries as well as four international organizations will attend this year's Nimble Titan exercise hosted by the Australian defense ministry.
On Wednesday, May 17, it was reported that Russia's new priority is trying to neutralize Ukraine's "improved" air defense systems after they successfully shot down missiles that President Vladimir Putin had bragged were unbeatable, according to UK intelligence.
The UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Wednesday that Russia has prioritized attempts to neutralize Ukraine's improved air defence capabilities after it "achieved the first ever shoot-down of a KILLJOY air-launched ballistic missile." KILLJOY is NATO's term for Russia's advanced Kinzhal missiles, which Russia has previously described as unstoppable.
On Thursday, May 18, it was reported that a proposed missile-defense system for Guam may provide the island with absolute protection from missile threats, including hypersonic missiles, but the project is already overdue, according to missile defense experts. Guam’s Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System is expected to deploy in long stages starting in 2027, according to the Missile Defense Agency. But with looming threats from potential adversaries like China and North Korea, that timeline may not suffice, according to Riki Ellison, founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. “We’re not going fast enough,” he told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday.
Also on Thursday, Explosions rocked Kyiv early Thursday, as Russia continued a wave of strikes on the Ukrainian capital. An air raid alert remained in place, and residents were urged to stay in shelters. Debris from missiles fell on the city, but no casualties were reported. The Patriot air-defense system damaged in Ukraine on Tuesday by a Russian strike has been fixed and is operational, Deputy Pentagon Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Thursday. Singh added that the United States provided “some assistance” on the repair of the system, but declined to offer additional detail.
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