MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

February 4 - February 10, 2020

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

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On Tuesday, it was reported the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returned to sea for trials and testing to ultimately become operational again. The USS Fitzgerald has undergone two years of repairs and modernization after a fatal collision in 2017 that claimed the lives of seven Sailors.

Also on Tuesday, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile that struck a weapons depot in Marib, Yemen. The weapons depot is located within a military camp used by Saudi-backed forces in the region. The extent of the damage was undisclosed.

On Wednesday, it was reported Greece is planning to deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia. Greek officials stated the unit will help defend Saudi energy infrastructure. It is not known how many systems will be sent or when they will arrive in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, it was reported the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has called on industry for new designs and prototypes to design and build an interceptor capable of defending against regional hypersonic weapon threats. Whitepapers are requested by March 19th on submissions for a Hypersonic Defense Regional Glide Phase Weapons System interceptor.

On Sunday, Iran unveiled a new short-range ballistic missile called the Ra’ad-500 that uses a new advanced composite engine and a moving nozzle. According to Iranian media reports, the Ra’ad-500 has a range of 500 kilometers and accuracy under 30 meters.

Also on Sunday, Iran launched a Simorgh space launch vehicle (SLV) in an attempt to put the Zafar 1 satellite into orbit. The first two stages of the Simorgh SLV functioned properly but failed to provide enough speed for the Zafar 1 to be put in orbit. This is Iran’s fourth failed space launch since January 2019.

On Monday, the Trump Administration released the President’s Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The Department of Defense’s budget request is $705.4 billion and includes $20.3 billion for missile defense and defeat projects. The Missile Defense Agency requested a total of $9.2 billion. This includes funding for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) and modifications to the Aegis Weapon System, SM-3 Block IIA, and THAAD interceptors for an Improved Layered Homeland Defense.

Click here to read all of the headlines from the week.

MDAA ALERTS

The New Reality

“And just weeks ago, for the first time since President Truman established the Air Force more than 70 years earlier, we created a brand-new branch of the United States Armed Forces. It’s called the Space Force." - President Donald Trump speaking in the State of the Union Address on February 4, 2020.

Click here to read more.

Breaking Video: Missile Defense FY21 Budget Request

For your awareness and interest, today marks the release of the missile defense budget for Fiscal Year 2021. The Department of Defense is holding a press conference this afternoon on the Missile Defense budget request.

Click here to read more.

MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

Aegis Afloat

Aegis Afloat is the sea-based component of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Aegis BMD builds upon the Aegis Weapon System, Standard Missile, and Navy and joint forces’ Command, Control and Communication systems.

Learn more about the Aegis Afloat system.

Greece

In 1964, Greece and several other NATO countries signed the “Multilateral Agreement” for use and operation of the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) at Crete, Greece’s largest island. The agreement established Greece as one of NATO’s leaders in air and...

Learn more about Greece's missile defense capabilities.

Iskander-M (SS-26)

The Iskander (SS-26 Stone) began development in the early 1970s to replace the Scud-B, however, its development was accelerated to replace the SS-23 Spider, which Russia retired in 1988 because of restrictions mandated by the INF Treaty.

Learn more about the Iskander-M

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Master Sergeant

Michael Benson

MSgt Benson is a Space System Operator assigned to the NORAD-USNORTHCOM Command Center as the Senior Missile & Space domain NCO Evaluator at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. MSgt Benson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Hanover High School, graduating in June 2002. After graduating from high school, MSgt Benson entered the Air Force Basic Training in August 2002. After completion of basic training he entered Enlisted Prerequisite Training (ESPT) at Vandenberg AFB. Upon graduation of ESPT, he entered Perimeter Acquisition Attack Characterization System training at Vandenberg AFB, after completion he reported to his first duty station, the 10th Space Warning Squadron at Cavalier AFS. Over the next 17 years, MSgt Benson served as a Flight Chief, Operations Flight for the 1st Space Operations Squadron, Section Chief twice, and NCOIC five times. MSgt Benson’s awards and decorations include three Air Force Commendation Medals, Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. MSgt Benson earned his Associate Degree in Space Technology from the community college of the Air Force. He is married to Tricia Benson and has two children, Westley and Makayla.