MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS January 23rd - January 29th, 2024 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On January 22nd, the U.S. Navy, now in control of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system in Poland, initiated maintenance and upgrades after overcoming construction delays. The Aegis Ashore system, initially operational in Romania since 2016, faced challenges in reaching full capability at the Redzikowo, Poland site. Despite struggles, the Navy officially accepted the system on Dec 15, 2023, with the transfer to NATO anticipated in spring or summer of this year. The current maintenance and upgrades, expected to take four months, include enhancements to the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services and the Global Positioning Navigation and Timing System. Delays have led to increased costs, with the Missile Defense Agency requesting an additional $96 million in FY2021 to maintain the Aegis weapon system at the site. The Aegis Ashore system in Poland is part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach for regional missile defense against threats from Iran. On January 25th, North Korea announced the testing of a new cruise missile system, the Pulhwasal-3-31, capable of launching nuclear warheads, amid escalating tensions with South Korea and its allies. The state media claimed the system is in development, and the test posed no threat to neighbors. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff noted a shorter trajectory, suggesting refinement of existing systems. This marks North Korea's second launch this year, following an experimental missile test. Analysts speculate a potential missile shortage, linking it to materials being sent to Russia for possible use against Ukraine, though both nations deny collaboration. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has increased threats against the US, South Korea, and Japan, condemning joint military exercises as "invasion rehearsals" and making nuclear strike threats. On January 28th, three US Army soldiers were killed and over 30 service members were injured in a drone attack on a US outpost in Jordan near the Syrian border. The attack, attributed to Iran-backed militants, marks the first time US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the Gaza war began. President Joe Biden vowed to hold those responsible accountable, blaming radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq. Iran denied involvement, stating accusations were "baseless." The attack raises tensions in the region, with calls from some US politicians for stronger action against Iran. The incident occurred at Tower 22, part of a US mission advising and assisting Jordan. The situation follows multiple attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. The US has conducted retaliatory actions against Iran-backed groups in the region. Talks about the future of the US military presence in Iraq are expected soon. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS 2023 Missile Defender of the Year "Last Friday evening we held our 14th Missile Defender of the Year event in Alexandria, VA. This event uniquely and with intent and with purpose is held in honor and recognition of the 33rd anniversary of the first intercepts of Iraqi ballistic missiles by the Patriot Missile Defense System..." Click here to read more. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Captain Melissa Biel Captain Melissa Biel displayed extraordinary leadership in support of missile defense by skillfully leveraging multiple intelligence sources in providing critical Indication and Warning (I&W) in support of the NORAD-NORTHCOM’s (NNC) 24/7, no-fail homeland defense mission against foreign missile threats. Specifically, she dissected over 43,000 reports and provided real-time characterization of more than 2,500 missile and space launches worldwide, shaping the CCMD’s posture and enabling the CDR NNC decision advantage. In addition, Captain Biel crafted 432 products detailing missile threats, cementing I&W for future missile and space events. As the most experienced Duty Director of Intelligence-Missile in the JIOC-N, she expertly led a joint watch team providing early warning of 27 North Korean launches, including their first solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile launch, enabling a vectored operational response as well as integrated defense posture across four CCMDs. Moreover, Captain Biel oversaw more than 500 injects for 72 internal and two Battle Staff exercises qualifying 18 Chief of Operations and Domain leads while simultaneously maintaining real-world requirements. Furthermore, her contributions were pivotal to the inauguration of NORTHCOM’s Joint Operation Center. Finally, Captain Biel alerted the bi-national Commands of a new air surveillance threats to enable the first-ever kinetic engagement of a high altitude balloon in US airspace. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2023 NORAD and NORTHCOM Missile Defenders of the Year  NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS USS Gravely shoots down two ballistic missiles in Gulf of Aden - Navy Times - 01/24/2024 North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles off western coast - Japan Times - 01/24/2024 Yemen Houthi rebels fire a missile at a US warship, escalating worst Mideast sea conflict in decades - ABC News - 01/26/2024 THREAT NEWS Russia aiming to exhaust Ukraine’s air defense missiles – White House - Yahoo! News - 01/24/2024 North Korea says leader Kim supervised tests of cruise missiles designed to be fired from submarines - AP News - 01/29/2024 OTHER NEWS PEO Missiles and Space teams with McAlester Army Depot to revive Stinger inventory - US Army - 01/23/2024 Russian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Cities Amid Fears Over Air Defenses - The New York Times - 01/24/2024 Northrop harnesses machine learning to aid Space Force missile parsing - Defense News- 01/25/2024 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!