MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS March 30 - April 5, 2021 THE WEEK IN BRIEF Click Here to Watch the Missile Defense Mondays Video On Tuesday, it was reported that the U.S. military held a joint missile defense drill in the Indo-Pacific, involving U.S. bases in South Korea, Japan, Guam, and Hawaii. The exercise, which lasted for two weeks in March, involved the THAAD and Patriot systems operated on those bases. On Wednesday, it was announced that Taiwan has decided to buy an upgraded version of the Patriot surface-to-air-missile in response to Chinese inclusions into the island’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This comes the same day as Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirms that the production of the Sky Bow III air defense missiles have been completed ahead of schedule. Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Australia’s Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with Raytheon to support the country’s National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS). The agreement is designed to help Australia strengthen its short-range ground-based air defense capabilities. Also on Wednesday, it was announced that South Korea is planning to invest $6.19 billion in an initiative that includes the construction of three new Aegis destroyers. The long-term initiative is designed to strengthen South Korea’s military capabilities and the Navy is set to receive the destroyers by 2028. On Thursday, it was announced that the U.S. Space Command had signed an agreement with Japan to increase collaboration on space security. The agreement assigns a liaison officer from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to U.S. Space Command Headquarters and strengthens data-sharing procedures. On Sunday, it was reported that two rockets fell near an Iraqi military airbase that hosts U.S. contractors. There were no casualties and the incident came shortly after it was reported that the U.S. had removed three Patriot missile defense batteries from the Gulf Region. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS A Special Chosen Few “It’s the duty of a very special chosen few that have to stand the watch each and every day, that have to be ready for the most uncertain circumstances. They have to surveil the heavens every day, looking for threats, never knowing when that day may come that a threat may appear. Then they have to be able to respond... Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Iron Dome (Israel) Israel’s current short-range anti-rocket, artillery and mortars system – Iron Dome – was independently developed by Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and IAI, before Raytheon joined the development process for the Tamir interceptor missiles in 2014, a condition of US funding... Learn more about Iron Dome. Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) Developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army, the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is a command-and-control (C2) capability that integrates air and missile defense systems to eliminate stovepipes and allow warfighters to use... Learn more about the IBCS. Tien-Kung (Sky Bow) The Tien-Kung, also known as the Sky Bow, is a medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system operated by Taiwan. The system is composed of the surface-to-air missiles, the canisters, and the mobile fire control units. The fire control unit includes the phased array radar, communication relay... Learn more about Tien-Kung Sky Bow. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK First Lieutenant Megan McCoy 1st Lt McCoy is the Officer in Charge of Future Mission Integration for the 7th Space Warning Squadron (SWS) at Beale Air Force Base, California. In this role, Lt McCoy is instrumental in transforming missile defense for our nation and our allies. Specifically, Lt McCoy managed the $2.4 billion Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) integration project for United States Space Force (USSF) at 7 SWS. She is the lynch-pin to pushing a sea of change in missile defense capability and Command and Control. Her charge has been to ensure the dynamic threat tracking capability of LRDR is integrated smoothly into the pre-existent 7 SWS organization and facility. To this end, Lt McCoy single-handily developed a Plan of Action and Milestone tracking system to ensure all integration timelines were met. Working with seven outside agencies she prioritized the unit’s Missile Warning, Mission Defense, and Space Domain Awareness missions and de-conflicted them with the contractor logistical and support needs. Simultaneously she worked with Missile Defense Agency Support Specialists and determined the Mission Warning Operations Center support footprint. In addition, she lead the integration of the temporary Mission Warning Operations Center ensured no loss to mission operations. Her direct actions led to project sustainment for the multiweapons system integration and innovation that equipped United States Northern Command and the USSF for this future asset. Working with senior leaders from Space Delta 2 and 4, Lt McCoy was able to define the roles and responsibilities for Buckley Garrison, Clear Air Force Station, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and Beale Air Force Base regarding the LRDR mission platform. Additionally, Lt McCoy was hand-selected as the first Active Duty Space Force member to attend the Sensor Manager Qualification Course for the LRDR system. First Lieutenant McCoy received her commission in 2017 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison ROTC program. She has held positions as a UEWR Crew Commander and Officer in Charge of Future Mission Integration within the Mission Assurance shop at the Squadron level. 1st Lt McCoy’s awards and decorations include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, and AF Training Ribbon. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 NORAD & USNORTHCOM Missile Warning and Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS S. Korea capable of intercepting N.K. short-range missiles: defense ministry - 3/30/2021 - The Korea Herald Coming in Hot! 32d AAMDC MI Leaders Launch Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Course - 3/30/2021 - DVIDS U.S. starts joint anti-missile drill in Indo-Pacific - 3/30/2021 - The Korea Herald Three companies make a joint run for Germany’s new air-defense program - 3/31/2021 - Defense News Taiwan Tried To Sneak A High-Tech Radar Onto Its Main Island Outpost - 3/31/2021 - Forbes Raytheon, Defense unveil new missile package - 3/31/2021 - Defense News Happy 10th birthday Iron Dome - 3/31/2021 - ynetnews.com Saudi Air Defense Stops Most Houthi Strikes - 3/31/2021 - Breaking Defense Sky Bow III missiles completed ahead of schedule: Taiwan’s defense ministry - 4/1/2021 - Taiwan News Defense chief calls for strong readiness after N.K. missile launches - 4/1/2021 - The Korea Herald S. Korea to invest W7tr for Aegis destroyers, attack helicopters - 4/1/2021 - The Korea Herald Taiwan to buy new U.S. air defense missiles to guard against China - 4/1/2021 - Reuters Finding common ground on homeland missile defense - 4/1/2021 - Defense News NDIA Policy Points: Sensor Tech Key to Effective Missile Defense - 4/2/2021 - National Defense Magazine U.S. removes Gulf air defense batteries amid Houthi drone strikes – report - 4/2/2021 - The Jerusalem Post Iron Dome upgrades - 4/2/2021 - Intermountain Jewish News Contentious U.S. missile shield back in limelight - 4/5/2021 - The Korea Herald THREAT NEWS Iran’s New Missile Corvette Could Reshape IRGC Naval Doctrine - 3/30/2021 - USNI News North Korean submarine capable of firing missiles being watched, Seoul says - 3/30/2021 - UPI.com Kim Jong Un’s Long Game Starts With Short-Range Missiles - 4/2/2021 - The Wall Street Journal Moscow may ramp up military response to West’s missile threats — diplomat - 4/5/2021 - Tass New reports highlight Russian, Chinese advances in space weapons - 4/5/2021 - Space News Pentagon on alert as Russia steps up saber rattling - 4/5/2021 - The Hill Rockets fall near Iraqi base hosting U.S. contractors - 4/5/2021 - Reuters Russia to Develop Kedr New Gen Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from 2023 - 4/5/2021 - DefenseWorld.net OTHER NEWS Russian Western Military District starts rearming with Tor-M2 air defense missile systems - 4/1/2021 - Army Recognition Japanese military strengthens ties with U.S. Space Command - 4/2/2021 - Space News U.S., Japan, South Korea huddle in Annapolis to chart strategy as Biden’s North Korea policy review wraps up - 4/2/2021 - Washington Examiner U.S., Japan, and South Korea Share North Korea Missile Concerns - 4/5/2021 - Bloomberg Stay Connected: ‌ ‌ ‌ MDAA | 515 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!