Missile Defense Mondays   MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS July 23rd - July 29th, 2024 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On July 24th, The Economist published an article on emerging Ukrainian technology for strengthening its air and missile defense capabilities. The article featured quotes from MDAA Chairman & Founder Riki Ellison. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has faced significant challenges in defending its airspace due to inadequate radar coverage. In response, Ukrainian tech innovators quickly developed alternative detection systems. These systems, cheaper and stealthier than traditional radar, have been effective at identifying and tracking threats. Riki Ellison, founder of the MDAA, highlighted Sky Fortress's extensive and effective network of listening stations, which has significantly bolstered Ukraine’s air defense. The MDAA has organized demonstrations of these technologies for NATO countries, showcasing their effectiveness in detecting and tracking threats. As these technologies prove successful, they are setting new standards in aerial threat detection and inspiring global military adaptations. You can read the full article on The Economist's website here. On July 25th, U.S. and Canadian fighters intercepted Russian and Chinese warplanes off the coast of Alaska, marking the first time strategic bombers from these two U.S. adversaries have operated together near North America. Two Russian TU-95 and two Chinese H-6 bombers flew into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, approaching as close as 200 miles to the Alaskan coast. While not entering U.S. or Canadian airspace, their presence signaled increasing military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. The U.S. and Canadian aircraft, including F-16s, F-35s, and CF-18s, monitored and intercepted the bombers. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine, despite no evidence of joint military system operations between the two countries. This incident follows a similar naval patrol by Russian and Chinese forces near Alaska last year. On July 28th, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. and Germany's plan to deploy U.S. long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, comparing it to Cold War events and hinting at a reciprocal Russian response. Speaking at Russia's Navy Day, Putin warned that such deployments could prompt Russia to abandon its moratorium on medium and shorter-range missiles and enhance its coastal naval forces. He likened the situation to the deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe during the 1980s, which was a significant Cold War tension point until the 1988 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). With Russia's development of similar strike weapons nearing completion, Putin emphasized the potential for reciprocal deployments. This move follows a July statement by the U.S. and Germany on new missile systems, raising fears of a new arms race reminiscent of Cold War-era dynamics. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK 1LT Jack Vantress  1LT Vantress is currently assigned as a Tactical Control Officer (TCO) for the HHB Battery at the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC) in support of Operation: Noble Eagle (ONE). For additional duty, 1LT Vantress is serving as the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the M4 Zero Range at Fort Walker, Virginia, and is the schedule manager for the JADOC. 1LT Vantress was coined by Task Force Atlas for assisting in the certification process of TF Atlas’ JADOC teams and was coined by Major Cianciola as a part of the best JADOC floor team during the 2-263rd ADA BN’s 2022 CTE. JADOC Team 3 has not been cited for any errors on any Falcon Virgos, Falcon Gains, Distributed Mission Operations (DMO), or simulations since the 1-174th ADA Battalion conducted the battle hand-off during July 2023 in the National Capital Region (NCR). As one of the top performing JADOC teams, Team 3 has been selected to support 1-265th ADA (Florida Army National Guard) EAS and CTE to train their JADOC teams, so they are fully mission capable upon arrival to the NCR. 1LT Vantress commissioned into the South Carolina ARNG in September 2020 as a Second Lieutenant after graduating from Cedarville University, OH, with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He was assigned to the 2-263rd, C-BTRY in Anderson, SC, and served as an excess officer. In this time, 1LT Vantress planned and lead a convoy from Anderson, SC to McCready Training Center, SC, to facilitate C-BTRY training. Following this, 1LT Vantress attended Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) at Fort Sill, OK, and placed in the top twenty-five percent of his SHORAD class. Upon returning to the 2-263rd, 1LT Vantress was assigned as the TCO for the South Carolina ONE Shooter battalion on Team 4. During this time, Team 4 successfully engaged over eight hundred Tracks of Interest (TOIs) and was recognized as the best team in the 2-263rd’s JADOC. In recognition of his hard work and dedication to continually improvement, 1LT Vantress was awarded an ARCOM at the end of the 2-263rd’s rotation in ONE. 1LT Vantress has continued to sharpen his skills by working towards a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University and achieved a Project Management Certification in February 2024. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2024 NCR Missile Defender of the Year NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Pentagon Arctic Strategy Aims to Enhance U.S. Presence, Exercise More Often - USNI News - 07/23/2024 India tests second phase of key ballistic missile defence system - Hindustan Times - 07/25/2024 How Sky Shield, Europe's proposed Iron Dome, would work and why it's becoming controversial - Euro News - 07/28/2024 AIR DEFENSE NEWS Ukraine’s Acoustic Drone Detection Network Eyed By U.S. As Low-Cost Air Defense Option - The War Zone - 07/24/2024 Spain to deliver new Hawk air defense system to Ukraine - RBC Ukraine - 07/25/2024 THREAT NEWS Air forces in Indo-Pacific unite to counter Chinese threat - The Economic Times - 07/23/2024 SPACE NEWS Defense Leaders: We Need to Invest in Space, Unmanned Systems for the Arctic - Air & Space Forces Magazine - 07/23/2024 Space Force mulling nuclear protection for missile-tracking satellites - Defense News - 07/26/2024 OTHER NEWS Pentagon Finds Additional $2 Billion for Ukraine Due to New Accounting Errors - The Gaze - 07/26/2024 US to revamp military forces in Japan in ‘historic’ move as regional tensions mount - CNN - 07/28/2024  Stay Connected: MDAA | 515 King Street Suite 330 | Alexandria, VA 22314 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice