MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS June 23 - June 29, 2020 THE WEEK IN BRIEF Click Here to Watch The Missile Defense Mondays Video On Tuesday, Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they had carried out their largest-ever offensive against Saudi Arabia. The group launched a number of winged ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, targeting the defense ministry and a military base in the city. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Also on Tuesday, the final JMSDF Aegis Destroyer 'Haguro' sailed out of Isogo Ward in Yokohama to begin sea trials. Haguro is the second and final vessel of the Maya-class of destroyers, and the eighth Aegis destroyer of the JMSDF. Laid down in January 2018 and launched in July 2019, the ship is expected to be commissioned in 2021. On Wednesday, Lithuania announced it was procuring additional Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based medium-range air defense system combat and inert missiles from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. The systems use U.S.-made AMRAAM missiles capable of destroying both aircraft and missiles. Also on Wednesday, the Pentagon's top two technology experts submitted their resignations. Dr. Mike Griffin, the Department's first Undersecretary of Research and Engineering, and his deputy Lisa Porter both resigned effective July 10th. In a letter to R&E staff, Griffin and Porter thanked their team and indicated that they were pursuing a private-sector opportunity. On Thursday, it was reported that the Senate's annual defense policy bill would include an additional $120 million for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Senor (HBTSS). The Department of Defense did not seek more funding for the project in its FY 2021 budget request and the decision to give the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) the funds continues the more than year long disagreement over whether MDA or the Space Development Agency should lead the program. On Friday, Lockheed Martin reported that the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) had successfully intercepted a tactical ballistic missile in a test. The PAC-3 MSE successfully detected, tracked, and intercepted a missile target in a test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. On Monday, ​it was reported that Raytheon Missiles & Defense received a $2.3 billion contract to produce seven AN/TPY-2 radars as part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The contract is part of a sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which faces continued ballistic missile threats. Click here to read all of the headlines from the week. MDAA ALERTS Change Agent Disruption forces change. Only those rare few that have the courage, the confidence, the grit, the knowledge, the depth, and the breadth of vast experience can be disruptive agents that force addressing necessary change. Dr. Michael Griffin is one of them, an absolute pioneer...  Click here to read more. Global Missile Defense Responsibilities “Today we’re here to discuss the global missile defense responsibilities. We are challenged by them, by those responsibilities. We have a national defense strategy that’s calling us to compete with our near peers. We have limited capacity...  Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) The Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2) is the initiative to replace the current domain and control systems with one that connects the existing sensors and shooters and distribute the available data to all domains (sea, air, land, cyber, and space) and forces that are...  Learn more about JADC2. Houthis The Houthis – officially “Ansar Allah” – are a Yemeni rebel group adherent to Zaidism, a branch of Shia Islam shared by 30-40% of the Yemen population. Zaidi Imams ruled Yemen for one thousand years until the 1962 revolution. The new Yemeni government excluded Zaidi regions... Learn more about the Houthis. AN/TPY-2 Manufactured by Raytheon and specifically designed for ballistic missile defense, the Army/Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2) is deployed to enhance the ballistic missile defense system by adding robustness against a wide range of threats.... Learn more about the AN/TPY-2. MDAA IN THE NEWS SMDC leader speaks at MDAA roundtable Cruise missiles are a serious threat challenging defensive systems, and advances in hypersonic design and performance promise to make them even more deadly, say U.S. missile defense flag officers...  Click here to read more. Hypersonic Cruise Missiles Pose Greatest Area Defense Threat Military leaders gathered virtually with the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance to discuss their roles in global missile defense and in the defense of the nation during a roundtable June 23. Lt. Gen. Daniel L. Karbler, commanding general...  Click here to read more. Riki Ellison Interview on the Mike Buck Show (6/25/2020) Riki Ellison on the Mike Buck Show on June 25, 2020. Riki and Mike discuss how coronavirus has impacted U.S defense in the Pacific, what new capabilities are needed in the region, and Riki's Youth Impact Program.  Click here to listen to the full interview. Changes in Tech, Strategy Drive Missile Defense At yesterday’s virtual conference sponsored by the Missile Defense Advocacy Association, the idea that the return of great power competition has shifted the missions of missile defense was the unifying theme...  Click here to read more. U.S Commanders Pledge to Work with Japan on Alternative After Halt of Missile Project Top U.S. missile defense officials say they are not overly concerned about Japan’s decision to suspend the planned deployment of two Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense systems...  Click here to read more. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Japan considers floating islands as Aegis Ashore missile system alternative: reports - 6/23/20 - The Mainichi U.S needs a space sensor layer to protect against hypersonic missiles - 6/23/20 - Washington Times Lawmakers threaten to move Missile Defense Agency as frustrations mount - 6/23/20 - C4ISRNET Final JMSDF Aegis Destroyer ‘Haguro’ はぐろ Starts Sea Trials - 6/24/20 - Naval News Senate bill would add $120M for hypersonic tracking satellites - 6/25/20 - C4ISRNET Countering missile threats means addressing the present while planning for the future - 6/25/20 - DefenseNews Griffin’s departure stirs questions about the future of the Space Development Agency - 6/25/20 - SpaceNews U.S. Army advanced defense system successfully intercepted tactical ballistic missile - 6/26/20 - Defence Blog Japan confirms it’s scrapping US missile defense system - 6/26/20 - DefenseNews Senate lawmakers want report on Army air and missile defense - 6/26/20 - Inside Defense HASC Chairman adds $150 million in NDAA for space launch technology development - 6/26/20 - SpaceNews Raytheon Missiles and Defense awarded production contract for missile defense radars - 6/29/20 - Army Recognition Northrop Grumman receives $222 million contract to update aging missile-warning satellites - 6/29/20 - SpaceNews Satellite image: Iran blast was near suspected missile site - 6/29/20 - Israel Hayom THREAT NEWS Yemen’s Houthis say they launched attacks on Saudi Arabia cities - 6/23/20 - Aljazeera Special Report: Inside Iran’s secret project to produce aluminium powder for missiles - 6/24/20 - Reuters Arab Coalition seizes new Iranian missile shipment off Yemen coast - 6/29/20 - The National OTHER NEWS China teases Japan in East China Sea, sends 67 ships near Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands since April: Report - 6/23/20 - TimesNow News Lithuania takes delivery of NASAMS Norwegian air defense missile system - 6/24/20 - Army Recognition Iran Not to Bargain over Missile Program, Regional Interests: Spokesman - 6/24/20 - Tasnim News Pentagon’s top tech experts, Griffin and Porter, resign - 6/24/20 - DefenseNews Russia ready to sign new deal with Turkey on S-400 air defense systems - 6/24/20 - Tass Iraqi forces raid Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah base, 14 arrested - 6/26/20 - Aljazeera India-China row: India moves missile system into Ladakh - 6/29/20 - AA 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!