MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

February 2 - February 8, 2021

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

Click Here to Watch The Missile Defense Mondays Video

On Tuesday, it was reported that the Russian Baltic Fleet’s Iskander-M tactical missile systems teams had delivered missile strikes during a series of drills in Kaliningrad. The drills saw the Iskander-M system target and strike mock enemy installations and utilized 100 personnel and 10 items of hardware.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Pakistan successfully test-fired a Ghaznavi short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile, which operates with a range of 180 miles, was tested as a part of an annual field training exercise by Pakistan’s Army Strategic Forces Command.

Also on Wednesday, it was reported that the U.S. European Command and Israel Defense Forces had begun Exercise Juniper Falcon 2021. The exercise, which takes place in both Israel and Germany, is designed to enhance the interoperability of air and missile defense systems between the U.S. and Israel.

Also on Wednesday, it was announced that the Missile Defense Agency plans to launch a new Glide Phase Interceptor initiative. The initiative is part of the effort to advance the hypersonic missile defense program and its first phase is set to begin later this year.

On Thursday, it was reported that the Chinese government had carried out an anti-ballistic missile test, intercepting an intermediate-range ballistic missile. That same day, the USS John S. McCain traveled through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 2021.

Also on Thursday, it was announced the future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) had successfully completed acceptance trials. DDG 118 is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System and is set to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in the coming weeks.

Also on Thursday, it was announced that Northrop Grumman and Polish firm Transbit integrated the Transbit R-460A radio communications system with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS). The Transbit R-460A system is the first non-U.S. radio system integrated with IBCS as Poland also becomes the first overseas partner nation to receive IBCS.

Click here to read all of this week's headlines.

MDAA ALERTS

Living Dangerously

For people around the globe, 2020 can in many ways be described as the ‘Year of Living Dangerously’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a host of increased threats to our security. At MDAA, we tracked down the large growth in the pace and sophistication of the missile threat facing the United States and our allies...

Click here to read more.

Acting Now

Two military service chiefs have demonstrated leadership through their efforts to inform public policy and opinion, as General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the U.S. Air Force chief of staff, and General David H. Berger, the U.S. Marine Corps commandant authored a joint piece in the Washington Post...

Click here to read more.

MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS)

Developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army, the IBCS is a command-and-control (C2) capability that integrates air and missile defense systems to eliminate stovepipes and allow warfighters to use any sensor or weapons to achieve mission objectives...

Learn more about IBCS.

Republic of Korea

The geostrategic position of the Republic of Korea (ROK/South Korea) is difficult given its proximity to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea), which may be fast approaching ballistic missile program readiness – as well as developing a weapons of mass destruction program...

Learn more about the Republic of Korea.

Green Pine Radar (Israel)

TheThe Elta Green Pine early warning and fire control radar, designated EL/M 2080, is a vital part of the Arrow missile defense system. Green Pine was developed in Israel but has also been sold to and deployed in India and South Korea.It operates at L-Band in the range of 500MHz – 1000MHz...

Learn more about the Green Pine Radar.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Master Sergeant Daniel Kennett

MSgt Kennett is a Staff Evaluator for the 213th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Air Force Station (AFS), Alaska. The 213th Space Warning Squadron operates an AN/FPS-123 Phased Array Warning System to provide early warning of ballistic missile attack against the United States and Canada and tracking of space objects in low earth orbit for Northern and Air Force Space Commands. In this position, MSgt Kennett actively participates in standardizing training material for the crew force as well as evaluating the crew in a simulated environment to maintain the certification and proficiency of both the Early Warning Radar (EWR) and Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR). MSgt Kennett was hand selected to Standardization and Evaluations flight and has evaluated crew performance for a 37 member multinational force ensuring members are certified to complete a no-fail mission. MSgt Kennett’s knowledge and experience were critical in developing and administering new training and evaluation scripts to certify crews to perform a new missile defense mission and operate a $113 million upgraded radar system. MSgt Kennett was also selected as the United States Space Force Front Range unit representative where he leveraged his experience to identify several system enhancements, coordinated new Tactics Techniques and Procedures, and was able to enhance tactics for five geographically separated units. MSgt Kennett was born in Michigan. He enlisted in the Air Force in May 2009 as an Airman First Class. He then went on to complete the technical training for Cyber Systems Operations. In 2012 MSgt Kennett cross trained to the Client Systems career field and served the 168th ARW faithfully in this position until he was awarded a Space Systems Operations position at Clear AFS, Alaska in 2015. His awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service (one oak leaf cluster), Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, Basic Military Training Honor Graduate, and Air Force Training Ribbon.

Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 Alaska Missile Defender of the Year.

MDAA PRESENTATIONS

Space and Missile Defense Working Group

On January 28th, 2021, MDAA’s Chairman and Founder Riki Ellison presented to the Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) Chartered by NDIA-Tennessee Valley Chapter of Huntsville, Alabama in a virtual event lasting 90 minutes.

Click here to watch the presentation and read a transcript.