On Monday June 5, it was reported that the USC SHIELD program, completing its second year, is a partnership among the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a non-profit that seeks to generate support for continued testing and development of missile defense systems. With the goal of bridging bureaucratic gaps between policy and engineering innovations, the program brings together professionals in government, military and industry. USC SHIELD touches on a wide range of policy and engineering topics, including international diplomacy, artificial intelligence and the history of missile defense. 

On Tuesday, June 6, Iran unveiled what officials are describing as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile, one it claims can "bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States" and "Israel’s Iron Dome." The Fattah missile, which was showcased at a ceremony attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of the country’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, has a top speed of around Mach 14 – more than 10,000 mph -- according to Reuters, citing Iranian state media.

On Wednesday, June 7, South Korea’s defence ministry has lodged a “stern” protest with Beijing and Moscow, local media reported, after Chinese and Russian military planes entered the country’s air defence identification zone unannounced during what China’s defence ministry said was a joint patrol exercise. South Korean fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday in response to the presence of four Chinese and four Russian military aircraft which did not violate the country’s airspace but did enter South Korea’s air defence identification zone (KADIZ).

On Thursday June 8, it was reported that the Pentagon is set to announce as early as Friday a long-term arms package for Ukraine heavy on air defense munitions valued at more than $2 billion, according to administration officials. The money, to be awarded under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will bankroll the purchase of Hawk missile launchers and missiles and two types of advanced Patriot air defense missiles. One is the Patriot Advanced Capability Missile-3, or Pac-3, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. 

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