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.
