MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

March 22 - March 29, 2021

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

Click Here to Watch the Missile Defense Mondays Video

On Tuesday, it was reported that Israel had completed a series of live-fire trials of the upgraded Barak Air Defense System. The drills, performed by Israel Aerospace Industries, tested the extended-range capability of the Barak ER interceptor and MMR radar.

Also on Tuesday, it was announced that the German Defense Ministry is canceling plans for a next-generation air defense system and is instead focusing on counter-drone technology and Patriot missile defense system upgrades. Germany’s modernization of its Patriot systems is expected to keep them operational through 2030.

On Wednesday, it was announced by the U.S. Department of Defense that a Lockheed Martin team and a Northrop Grumman-Raytheon Technologies team have been selected to each develop designs for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). These awards are the first major step in developing NGI, which is set to be delivered in the late-2020’s and will defend the U.S. homeland from Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

On Thursday, North Korea launched two new short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. The new missile first appeared during a North Korean military parade in January and North Korea stated the warhead weight had been improved to 2.5 tons.

On Friday, it was reported that 20 Chinese military aircraft had entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The announcement, made by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, stated that this marks the largest incursion into Taiwan’s ADIZ since the country first started reporting incursions last year.

Also on Friday, it was reported that Saudi Arabian forces had intercepted a ballistic missile over the southwestern city of Najran. The intercept comes shortly after Saudi Arabia confirmed a Houthi-led attack on a petroleum distribution center had caused a fire at the site.

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

MDAA ALERTS

A Testament

Yesterday the North Korean regime (DPRK) resumed test-firing of its ballistic missile systems, conducting research and development in order to gain more reliability and lethality with its missile technologies. These missile systems are a direct threat to the Republic of Korea, Japan...

Click here to read more.

MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

KN-23

North Korea first displayed the KN-23 in a military parade on February 8^th, 2018. The DPRK first tested the missile on May 4^th, 2019 in what it described as test of a ‘tactical guided weapon’. The test was conducted from Wonsan and had a range of 240 km and an apogee (maximum height on the ballistic rectory) of 60 km...

Learn more about KN-23.

Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)

The Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) is designed to support the defense and intelligence communities and provide global surveillance capabilities in four key mission areas: missile defense, missile warning, technical intelligence, and battlespace awareness...

Learn more about the SBIRS.

Germany

Germany is the single largest capacity provider of ballistic missile defense in Europe. Germany does not possess nuclear weapons, nor would it be a threat even if it did. It did, however, play an important role in the negotiations for the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the USA and USSR...

Learn more about the Germany.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

First Lieutenant Eryn Daman

1st Lt Daman is a Mission Commander with the 2d Space Warning Squadron (2 SWS), Space Delta 4, Buckley Garrison, in Aurora, Colorado. As Mission Commander, she operates and presides over 14 enlisted and officer personnel as part of America’s Premier Missile Warning entity, providing 1st alert and early warning indications to over 345,000 military, civilian, and allied forces across the globe. Lt Daman played a pivotal alert role in the Iranian Strike against two U.S. bases in Iraq on January 7th, 2020. As leader of a 15-person team, she worked with four missile warning agencies and created five critical mission plans for eight enemy threat platforms in anticipation of a catastrophic attack on U.S. and Allied forces. Lt Daman’s accuracy, attention to detail, and leadership during the crisis allowed her crew to provide first indications to 5,000 coalition members in U.S. Central Command, leading to zero casualties. Her heroic efforts not only earned the crew a Group level award, but also personal kudos and thanks from the U.S. Central Command Combined Forces Air Component Commander, Chief of Space Operations, Secretary of the Air Force, and even the President of the United States. Additionally, Lt Daman volunteered to lead a 9-member, 30-day sequester operation to ensure vital missile defense support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She was able to operate 300 error-free survivable mission hours and identify and report 23 infrared events. This tremendous execution fulfilled both the Wing Commander’s and Secretary of Defense’s top missile warning priority. Lt Daman was born and raised in Dewitt, Michigan where she excelled as an athlete and scholar throughout her life. She earned her commission from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 2018 where she majored in Physics. Concurrent with military training, she was also a 4-year letterwoman on the varsity soccer team at VMI. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Exercise Science from Liberty University. Lt Daman has accumulated over 2,000 operational hours on the Space Based Infrared System as part of the Overhead Persistent Infrared Community. She is a certified line tactician and has also earned an Air Force Achievement Medal for her work with the Wing Command Action Group during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 NORAD & USNORTHCOM Missile Warning and Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.