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.
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