MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

March 31 - April 6, 2020

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

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On Tuesday, it was reported the United States deployed Patriot missile defense systems to two military bases in Iraq. One Patriot battery was deployed to the al-Asad base in Anbar province and a second battery was deployed to a base in Irbil. Earlier this year, Iran targeted both bases with short-range ballistic missiles that left more than 100 U.S. troops with brain injuries. Two additional Patriot batteries are also expected to deploy into Iraq from Kuwait.

Also on Tuesday, it was reported the Missile Defense Agency finalized a multi-year production contract for the SM-3 Block IB interceptor. Covering the fiscal years 2019-2023, it is the first multi-year contract for the SM-3 program. It is expected 174 SM-3 Block IB interceptors will be procured in the multi-year contract.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Russian Navy was expediting test launches of the hypersonic 3M-22 Tsirkon anti-ship missile (ASM) from submarines and surface vessels. Testing on Yasen submarines is expected to begin later this year. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate is expected to conduct 3-4 tests of the Tsirkon this year, with its second overall test firing taking place this month or in May.

On Thursday, it was reported the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command recently submitted to Congress a $20 billion wish list for fiscal years 2021-2026. The wish list included several missile defense items such as a 360 degree persistent and integrated air defense capability for Guam, the homeland defense radar in Hawaii, and a space-based sensor layer.

On Monday, it was reported that at least three rockets had hit near the site of an American oil field service company in southern Iraq, the first to target U.S. energy interests in months. The rockets struck the site of Halliburton in the Burjesia area in the oil-rich Basra province, according to a statement from the Iraqi military.

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

MDAA ALERTS

Our Team

It is my distinct honor and pleasure to announce the addition of former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, John Rood, as the newest member of the Board of Directors for the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

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Under Fire

During this past month, one of our MDAA Board Members was under fire from rockets and mortars multiple times at a forward operating base (FOB) in the Middle East. His life and the lives on that base were defended by the Land Based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) that uses a six...

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MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)

The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is a derivative of the RIM-156 Standard SM-2 Block IV missile, and is the interceptor component of the U.S. Navy theater ballistic missile defense system, called NTW-TBMD (Navy Theater Wide – Theater Ballistic Missile Defense).

Learn more about the SM-3.

Republic of Korea

The geostrategic position of the Republic of Korea (ROK/South Korea) is difficult given its proximity to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea), which may be fast approaching ballistic missile program readiness...

Learn more about the Republic of Korea's missile defenses.

Fateh-313

The Fateh-313 is an Iranian-designed, short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It is a development of the Fateh-110 series, but features an improved guidance system with the ability to strike targets with pinpoint accuracy within 500 km.

Learn more about the Fateh-313.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Mr. Kermit Neal

Mr. Neal is a Branch Chief in the Operations Directorate for U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is responsible for providing counsel to senior staff at U.S. Northern Command for matters related to integrated air and missile defense operations for the homeland. Mr. Neal has been with U.S. Northern Command since 2007. Mr. Neal is a graduate of Husson College in Bangor, Maine for his undergraduate degree and the University of Oklahoma for his Master’s Degree. He accepted a commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1982 and began his career as a pilot flying RC-135 aircraft at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska and deployed to various locations around the globe. He stayed in RC/KC-135 community as an instructor pilot, Squadron Commander, and Deputy Operations Group Commander before being assigned to U.S. Strategic Command as a Deputy Division Chief and then Battle Watch Commander/Senior Controller in the U.S. Strategic Command Global Operations Center. Mr. Neal was also personally selected to be the aircraft commander for a distinguished visitor aircraft and flew high level military and civilian personnel to locations worldwide. Based on his operational experience, after September 11, 2001, Mr. Neal was deployed to Oman to stand up an Operations Group supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Mr. Neal finished his Air Force career as the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Operations Center in Washington D.C. Upon leaving the Air Force, Mr. Neal was hired as a contractor at U.S. Northern Command into the Ballistic Missile Defense Division and was hired as a government civilian in 2010. Outside of work, most of Mr. Neal’s time is spent with his family; his wife Kimberly, who teaches fourth grade, and his two sons. Mr. Neal is actively involved in the Boy Scouts and has hiked a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch with his sons and leads camping and backpacking trips on a regular basis.