Missile Defense Mondays   MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS July 9th - July 15th, 2024 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On July 9th, at the NATO 75th anniversary summit, President Joe Biden announced a significant agreement involving the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This coalition will supply Ukraine with five strategic air defense systems and additional tactical systems to counter Russian missile attacks. Specifically, the U.S., Germany, and Romania will provide Patriot batteries, the Netherlands will contribute Patriot components, and Italy will offer a SAMP-T system. This initiative follows a recent increase in Ukrainian prioritization for Patriot and NASAMS interceptors by the U.S., with plans for hundreds more interceptors to be delivered within the year. Biden's announcement coincides with a deadly Russian missile attack on Ukraine's largest children's hospital, underscoring the urgency of enhanced defense support. Other NATO members are also expected to announce further security assistance for Ukraine during the summit. On July 10th, NATO announced that a new U.S. air defense base in northern Poland is now mission-ready. Located in Redzikowo, the Aegis Ashore system is designed to detect and intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, enhancing NATO's collective defense capability against growing missile threats. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the base's importance for transatlantic security amid increasing missile use in conflicts such as Ukraine and the Middle East. The base is part of a broader missile defense shield that includes another Aegis Ashore site in Romania, U.S. Navy destroyers in Spain, and an early-warning radar in Turkey. NATO maintains that the Aegis Ashore system is purely defensive, with approximately 200 military personnel stationed at the interceptor sites in Poland and Romania. On July 13th, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported heightened alertness as it monitored China's Rocket Force conducting multiple missile tests in Inner Mongolia, located over 1,600 kilometers from Taiwan. This activity follows increased military maneuvers by China around Taiwan, including significant incursions of warplanes across the median line in the Taiwan Strait. The escalation coincides with U.S. support for Taiwan's defense, marked by recent arms sales and diplomatic assurances. Concurrently, Russian warships arrived in China for joint naval drills aimed at enhancing maritime security cooperation. NATO has also criticized China for its support of Russia in the Ukraine conflict, prompting a sharp response from Beijing. These developments underscore the growing military tension and strategic alliances influencing regional and global security dynamics. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Defeating the Kh-101 The Kh-101 that struck Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kiev, on July 8th is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed by Russia’s Raduga Design Bureau for The Russian Ministry of Defense... Read more   MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK SPC Ethan Gutierrez  SPC Gutierez is currently assigned to the Minimum Deployment Package Maintenance Section. SPC Guitierez consistently volunteered and came in on off days to help the HHB 91B Wheel Maintenance Section with troubleshooting and repair of Non-Mission Capable Vehicles for Minimum Deployment Package and Shooter Platoons maintaining a high Operational Readiness Rate and contributing to the overall success of 1-174 ADA BN NCR rotation. As a 91B Wheel Vehicle Mechanic, SPC Gutierrez cross-trained as a 91D Generator Mechanic due to a BN Shortage of MOS-qualified personnel on mission. Power Generation is a critical asset to the Minimum Deployment Package. By taking the initiative to learn multiple platforms, he gave his leadership the flexibility of having one Soldier maintain both the prime mover and power generation, allowing leadership to use assigned personnel for other critical tasks. SPC Gutierrez spent numerous days and hours troubleshooting a Class III transmission leak that the prior rotations had not been able to repair. After thorough troubleshooting and properly identifying that the transmission would need to be replaced, a task that no mechanic on this rotation has completed, I was able to complete the task after numerous setbacks and challenges and return a critical piece of equipment to Fully Mission Capable (FMC). As a Specialist, he was assigned to ensure all shipment paperwork was complete, signed, and submitted in a timely manner. He creates, tracks, and submits all Bill of Lading for MDP, a critical task to maintain accountability of equipment, timely delivery of equipment to mission location, and proper payment to vendors.SPC Guitierez’s attitude and motivation were critical to his assigned platoon and the HHB maintenance platoon. He set the standard for all maintainers and was critical to 1-174 ADA BN NCR mission success. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2024 NCR Missile Defender of the Year NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Germany buys more Patriots as it supplements Ukraine’s air defense - Defense News - 07/11/2024 AIR DEFENSE NEWS US, allies announce additional air defense systems for Ukraine - Reuters - 07/09/2024 South Korea to mass produce lasers that can take out drones at $1.50 a hit - CNN - 07/11/2024 Philippines Department of Defense Requests Acquisition of Japanese-made Air Defense Missile Systems - Military Leak - 07/14/2024 THREAT NEWS Yemen Houthi rebels fired an Iranian missile at Norwegian-flagged ship, debris analyzed by US shows - AP News - 07/11/2024 Japan’s Defense White Paper Sounds Alarm Over China, North Korea, Russia - The Diplomat - 07/12/2024 SPACE NEWS NATO countries move to strengthen ability to collect, share space-based data - Defense Scoop - 07/10/2024 The Pentagon Needs a Strategy for Deep Space - Air & Space Forces Magazine - 07/14/2024 OTHER NEWS Japan reveals test launch of its hypersonic strike missile program - Defense News - 07/10/2024 Secretary of State Blinken Promises F-16s for Ukraine by Summer - USNI News - 07/10/2024 Stay Connected: MDAA | 515 King Street Suite 330 | Alexandria, VA 22314 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice