THIS WEEK IN MISSILE DEFENSE August 10 - August 16, 2019 THE WEEK IN BRIEF Click Here to Watch This Week in Missile Defense Video Last Thursday, an explosion off the coast of northern Russia released radiation and is suspected to be caused by the testing of a new type of nuclear-propelled cruise missile hailed by President Vladimir V. Putin as the centerpiece of Moscow’s arms race with the United States. Five scientists were killed in the explosion and there are still few other details on the incident. On Saturday, North Korea fired two new SRBMs off its east coast. Their flight distances varied from around 240 to 600 km, with maximum altitudes ranging from 37 to 50 km. The missiles, fired from a caterpillar-type transporter erector launcher (TEL), bear some outward similarities to the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a surface-to-surface missile system. On Tuesday, Michael D. Griffin, Under Secretary of Defense for research and engineering, spoke at the Hudson Institute about the complexity of the hypersonic threat. "It touches space, it touches ground stations, it touches detection and tracking algorithms, and fire control algorithms," the Under Secretary said. "Dealing with the hypersonic threat is even more of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary problem than ground missile defense was." Also on Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced its contract to purchase two Iron Dome systems for the U.S. Army. The systems are needed to fill the Army’s capability gap for cruise missile defense on an interim basis. Iron Dome has a proven combat record in Israel having intercepted more than 1,500 targets at a 90 percent success rate. Additionally on Tuesday, Bahrain signed an agreement to purchase an undisclosed number of Patriot missile defense systems. Earlier in May, the U.S. Department of State approved Bahrain’s procurement of the Patriot system at an estimated cost of $2.478 billion. The approval includes 60 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, 36 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T) , nine M903 Launching Stations, and other components, tools and test equipment. On Thursday, South Korea announced its defense budget would prioritize boosting its missile defense shield in response to North Korea’s evolving missile capability. South Korea plans to acquire two more ground-based anti-missile early warning radars and three more Aegis-equipped destroyers. Also on Thursday, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency director, Vice Admiral Jon Hill, was reported to have been opposed to the transfer of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, or THAAD, to the Army. The Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is pushing for this measure. VADM Hill cites that THAAD could be underfunded in the Army by more pressing priorities and modernization efforts in the service. On Friday, North Korea fired two short-range projectiles into the East Sea, South Korea's military said, the sixth such round of launches in about three weeks. The two projectiles were launched at around 8:01 and 8:16 A.M. local time and both flew around 230 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 30 km and a top speed of around Mach 6.1, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. Click here to read all of the headlines from the week. MDAA ALERTS Behind The Curtain The threat drives us to confront it, degrade it, and defend from it. The competition to achieve superiority and dominance in the seams of regional strategic power is fast upon us... e Click here to read more... c Riki Ellison met with cadets interested in a future in Air and Missile Defense at the United States Military Academy at West Point on Friday, August 16. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Iron Dome Israel’s current short-range anti-rocket, artillery and mortars system – Iron Dome – was independently developed by Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defense... Learn more about the Iron Dome Israel Israel is a very close ally for the United States and this position enables Israel to share some of the most advanced U.S. technologies. Geopolitics of the Middle East region and very hostile neighbors (technically Israel has been at war with... Learn more about Israel Patriot Missile Defense System The Patriot missile defense system is a ground-based, mobile missile defense interceptor deployed by the United States and many other nations... Learn more about the Patriot system MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK First Lieutenant Ryan Hairston 1LT Hairston is the Sensor Operator for Bravo Crew in the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Ft. Greely, Alaska. His tactical knowledge of the mission and the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Fire Control (GFC) system contributed to Bravo Crew success in passing multiple Operational Readiness Evaluations with the highest scores in the Battalion. 1LT Hairston is a native of Clarksville, Virginia. He enlisted in 2012 as an Officer Candidate and went to Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduating BCT, he was assigned to the 139th Regiment OCS in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 1LT Hairston commissioned in 2014 through the North Carolina Army National Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS) as an Infantry Officer. In 2016, 1LT Hairston accepted a position as a Sensor Operator in HHB, 49th Missile Defense Battalion. In 2019, he transitioned to Higher Headquarters Battery (HHB), 49th Missile Defense Battalion where he is assigned as the Battalion S6 OIC. 1LT Hairston's military education include the Introduction to Space, Ground-based Midcourse Defense Qualification Course, Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) Evaluator/Trainer Course, Air Defense Artillery Transition Course, and Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course. He holds a Baccalaureate degree in Sociology from Lenoir Rhyne University. 1LT Hairston's awards and decorations include the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon. He also is awarded the Basic Army Space Badge. Click here to view the winners from the 2019 Alaska Missile Defender of the Year. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS It’s official: US Army inks Iron Dome deal – 08/13/2019 – Defense News Air-defense training flights will be held early Tuesday, officials say – 08/14/2019 – The Washington Post Bahrain signs agreement to purchase Patriot air defense system – 08/14/2019 – The Defense Post National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020: House and Senate Proposals – 08/14/2019 - AIP Pentagon says US can defend against Russian and Chinese missile threats — if it’s willing to invest – 08/14/2019 – The Washington Examiner Army’s space operations take center stage – 08/15/2019 – The Redstone Rocket Taiwan Reveals Land-Based Variant Of Naval Point Defense Missile System To Guard Key Sites – 08/15/2019 – The Drive Lockheed wins $99M contract for foreign JASSM cruise missile support – 08/15/2019 - UPI South Korea moves to kick its missile defense shield up a notch – 08/15/2019 – Defense News Syria Says Air Defense Thwarts Missile Attack Coming From Direction of Lebanon – 08/16/2019 - Haaretz THREAT NEWS U.S. Officials Suspect New Nuclear Missile in Explosion That Killed 7 Russians – 08/12/2019 – The New York Times North Korea Says It Tested New Type of Missile, Further Enhancing Its Arsenal – 08/12/2019 – The New York Times Iran Unveils ‘Upgraded Missile Defense System’ – 08/12/2019 - Haaretz North Korea Changes Up Its Game to Bypass U.S. Missile Defenses – 08/13/2019 - Jalopnik Russia Showcases ‘Kinzhal’ Nuclear-Capable Air-Launched Ballistic Missile at Air Show – 08/13/2019 – The Diplomat Russia boasts of winning arms race days after fatal missile explosion – 08/14/2019 – The Hill Hypersonics Remain Top Priority for Defense Department – 08/15/2019 – U.S. Dept. of Defense (4th LD) N. Korea fires 2 unidentified projectiles into East Sea: JCS – 08/16/2019 – Yonhap News Agency Norway May Have Found Radioactivity From Failed Russian Missile – 08/16/2019 – Voice of America OTHER NEWS Trump administration plans $8 billion fighter jet sale to Taiwan, angering China – 08/16/2019 – The Washington Post MDAA IN THE NEWS Slippery slope: MDA boss fights transfer of missile defense system to Army – 08/15/2019 – Defense News Stay Connected: ‌ ‌ ‌ 515 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!