MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS November 14th - November 20th, 2023 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, November 14th, Lockheed Martin inaugurated a $16.5 million engineering facility at its Huntsville campus, enhancing missile defense innovation in North Alabama. The Missile System Integration Lab (MSIL) will serve as the development and testing hub for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), the nation's upcoming long-range ballistic missile defense system. The facility includes a digital engineering center and infrastructure to establish and maintain a digital thread throughout the integration process. Lockheed Martin's commitment to North Alabama is underscored by this investment, contributing to the region's growth and advanced capabilities. The MSIL, built on decades of missile defense expertise, supports hardware and software integration, showcasing the company's dedication to reducing risk in the NGI program. With the NGI program headquarters in Huntsville, Lockheed Martin is further solidifying its presence in the Rocket City, reinforcing it as a hub for missile defense excellence. The company also plans to construct two advanced facilities in Courtland, Alabama, expanding missile production and supporting its growing capabilities in the state. On Wednesday, November 15th, A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Thomas Hudner, intercepted and shot down a drone originating from Yemen as it approached the ship in the southern Red Sea near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The crew took prompt action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, resulting in no casualties or damage to the ship. Although there was no direct attribution to Iran-backed Houthi rebels, an initial intelligence assessment suggested that the drone was likely targeting the ship. This incident follows a recent episode where the Houthis shot down a U.S. drone over the Red Sea, with conflicting claims regarding its location. The Houthis, who have launched multiple aerial attacks against Israel, including strikes on U.S. Navy vessels, have vowed to target ships operating in the Red Sea. The USS Carney also faced similar drone strikes from Yemen on October 19, with the U.S. not believing the missiles were aimed at the ship. The Houthi rebels are known for their anti-Israel stance and frequent demonstrations in support of Palestinians. On Thursday, November 16th, Poland announced plans to establish an aerostats-based radar battalion to enhance radar capabilities as part of the development of the Polish Armed Forces. The first radar post is set to be established in July 2026. The initiative is linked to the Barbara program, with a request submitted to the U.S. for the delivery of four aerostats to monitor Polish airspace. This move is expected to improve Polish SIGINT capabilities by reducing the need for continuous airborne early warning (AEW) platforms, thereby minimizing wear and tear and operational costs. The Barbara program, aimed at enhancing airspace surveillance for NATO, has been in preparation since at least 2017, with a focus on tracking low-flying threats and ensuring continuous detection capabilities over extended periods. This move highlights the need for persistent overhead sensing capabilities. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA Alerts Panel Update "We are honored to confirm Brigadier General Maurice Barnett, Commander, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command for Europe onto two of our panel discussions. The General will be joining..."  Click here to read more. Latest from USC SHIELD Guest Speaker General Thompson "Doesn’t get much better than the Vice Chief of Space Operations of the United States Space Force General “DT” Thompson sharing his invaluable thoughts and perspectives with the USC SHIELD Executive Program group. We are so grateful for his time helping leaders in integrate deterrence..."  Click here to read more. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Sergeant Joseph LeClerc SGT LeClerc was born and raised in Inverness, Florida. He is married to his wife Elise Cote, and they have three children: Elizabeth, age 11; Hannah, age 8; and Hailey, age 4. He enlisted in the United States Army in April 2014. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he earned the military occupation Brigade, 2-43 ADA BN, D Battery, where he served from 2014 to 2019. During his time in 2-43, he deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Sentinel. From 2019 to 2021, he relocated to the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) at Peterson AFB, Colorado. At USASMDC, he worked for the G33 administration and orders section at the Space Missile Defense Command (SMDC) Operations Center. In 2021, he relocated to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii to work as a Sensor Manager at the 14th Missile Defense Battery (MDB). ​ Click here to view all the awardees from the 2023 Indo-Pacific Missile Defenders of the Year  NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Army Counter Drone System Pops Out Of A Shipping Container - The Drive - 11/15/2023 S. Korea Cleared to Buy US-Made Sidewinder, SM-6 Missiles for $700M - The Defense Post - 11/16/2023 Lockheed Integrates Advanced Patriot Missile With LTAMDS Radar for First Time - The Defense Post - 11/17/2023 Australian Army's first live-fire of advanced surface-to-air missile system - Australian Ministry of Defence - 11/18/2023 THREAT NEWS North Korea tests new solid-fuel engine for intermediate-range missiles - Space War - 11/15/2023 General Staff: Air defense downs 15 out of 20 drones in overnight Russian attack - Yahoo News - 11/19/2023 Iran unveils improved hypersonic missile, claims it can evade air defense systems - Times of Israel - 11/20/2023 OTHER NEWS Northrop pushes Battle Command tool to a missile-defense hungry Europe - Yahoo News - 11/17/202 US to deploy new land-based missiles, Army’s Pacific commander says - Defense One - 11/19/2023 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!