MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS April 20 - April 26, 2021 THE WEEK IN BRIEF Click Here to Watch the Missile Defense Mondays Video On Monday, it was announced the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) was deployed from Mayport. The ship is set to join the HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group and participate in operations to increase NATO interoperability and integration. The announcement also comes as the U.S. attempts to push its European allies’ abilities in countering unmanned aerial vehicles. On Tuesday, it was reported that the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command conducted a nine-hour long live-fire exercise involving dozens of H-6K strategic bombers. The exercise, which took place over the previous, came amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan. Also on Tuesday, it was announced that Greece and Saudi Arabia have signed a deal that enables Greece to lend a Patriot air defense system to Saudi Arabia. The deal comes as Saudi Arabia has faced increased drone and missile attacks from Houthi forces in recent weeks. On Thursday, it was reported that a Syrian missile exploded in southern Israel. The missile was identified as an SA-5 surface-to-air missile and it landed near Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor. On Friday, it was reported that eight rockets were fired towards Iraq, three of which hit near Baghdad international airport. No group has claimed responsibility and the attack comes less than a week after multiple rockets hit an Iraqi air base north of Baghdad. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Indo-Pacific Excellence “The Indo-Pacific is the single most consequential region for America’s future. It is the United States priority theater as clearly highlighted by the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy. Our INDOPACOM forces operate throughout the region to deter aggression, ensure freedom of navigation  Click here to read more. Mahalo We are honored to announce on behalf of the State of Hawaii, State Senate President, Ron Kouchi put forth a congratulations to the Indo-Pacific Air and Missile Defenders of the year for 2020. One Community, One Team in Unity for the common defense and Deterrence for the Indo Pacific...  Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES AN/APG-79 AESA The AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is an airborne radar made for F/A-18 E/F aircrafts. It is comprised of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to practically eliminate the possibility of mechanical breakdown. With a range of 150 km, the AN/APG-79 provides... Learn more about AN/APG-79 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pose unique strategic challenges that are relatively new to military planners. Diverse UAS models have proliferated across the globe over the past decade while the technology has improved, allowing greater use of UAS systems both in a military capacity, but also the private sector... Learn more about UAS. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Commander John Gustine CDR Gustine served as the Missile and Space Domain Chief Instructor; Missile and Space Domain Chief; Missile and Space Domain Deputy and Crew Training Officer for multiple crews assigned to the NORAD and U. S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Current Operations Center, HQ NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As a Missile and Space Domain Deputy, he assessed over 198 missile events, prosecuted 60 periods of interest, and conducted 300+ exercises with multiple space agencies. He participated in multiple National Event Conferences, National Threat Conferences, Missile Threat Conferences, Senior Leader Conferences, and Nuclear Decision Conferences representing the NORAD & USNORTHCOM Current-Operations Center (N2C2) Command leadership. As Missile and Space Domain Chief, CDR Gustine led a domain that characterizes missile events and relays to national authorities Commander, NORAD and USNORTHCOM missile attack assessments and is a key component of the USNORTHCOM Mobile Consolidated Command Center mission. Additionally, he monitors the system integrity of the $1.8 billion strategic and theater missile warning systems, assuring continuous warning coverage and notification to national and military senior leaders. CDR Gustine graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point New York, and commissioned in June of 2004 to begin Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, Florida. He graduated VT-4/VT-86 flight training and earned his NFO “Wings of Gold” in April 2006 and selected to fly the EA-6B Prowler. After completing training at Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ)-129 at NAS Whidbey Island in 2007, CDR Gustine deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, supporting over 200 combat missions over Afghanistan, totaling 794.2 flight hours in support of CJSOTF operations. From August 2014 to June 2015, CDR Gustine deployed with the VAQ-139 “Cougars” aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of OPERATION INHEREANT RESOLVE, supporting over twenty combat missions over Iraq and Syria, totaling 141.9 combat flight hours. CDR Gustine has accumulated over 2,800 flight hours in 8 naval aircraft with over 350 arrested landings on 5 aircraft carriers including more than 230 combat missions. His awards include an Individual Air Medal (1), the Strike/Flight Air Medal (11), Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal (2), and various service awards and ribbons. 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 NSWCDD and West Virginia University Partner on ‘Damaged States’ Tool to Transform Surface Warfare - 4/20/2021 - Naval Seas Command Greece signs deal to provide Saudi Arabia with Patriot air defense system - 4/22/2021 - Reuters U.S. military nudges European allies on countering small drones - 4/22/2021 - Defense News USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) DEPLOYS IN SUPPORT OF BRITISH CARRIER TASK GROUP 21 - 4/22/2021 - U.S. Fleet Forces Command Ready and responsive: 386th AEW AMDEX 21-02 - 4/23/2021 - DVIDS Raytheon Develops Next Generation Decoy for Aircraft Missile Defense - 4/23/2021 - ExecutiveBiz Navy Christens New Destroyer USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee; Ship Headed for San Diego - 4/26/2021 - Times of San Diego How Israel’s missile defense organization is preparing for the threats of the future - 4/26/2021 - Defense News IDF Strikes Gaza, Barrage of Rockets Fired on Israel in Night of Escalating Tension - 4/26/2021 - Haaretz.com Raytheon to build high-performance radar for THAAD missile-defense battery in $243.2 million order - 4/26/2021 - Military and Aerospace Electronics M-SHORAD Brings New Significance to the Army’s Air Defense Capabilities - 4/26/2021 - DVIDS THREAT NEWS Dozens Of Chinese H6-K Bombers Conduct 9-Hour Live-Fire Drills As Tensions Rise Over Taiwan - 4/20/2021 - The Eurasian Times Photos show Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine as Putin claims dominion over more of the region’s sea and air - 4/22/2021 - CBS News Israel says Iranian missile could have 5,000 km range - 4/22/2021 - Janes Iraqi military: 3 rockets strike close to Baghdad airport - 4/23/2021 - ABC News N. Korea seeking to defeat US missile defenses: CRS report - 4/23/2021 - The Korea Herald China shows off new warship, nuclear sub and guided-missile cruiser in show of strength amid Taiwan tensions - 4/26/2021 - The Sun North Korea Working on Nampo Missile Test Stand Barge - 4/26/2021 - Beyond Parallel OTHER NEWS U.S. considers more weapons shipments to Ukraine amid Russian buildup - 4/22/2021 - Politico Syrian missile explodes in area near Israeli nuclear reactor, Israel retaliates - 4/22/2021 - Reuters Russia successfully test-fires new ABM interceptor missile - 4/26/2021 - Tass Al-Bayza II Air Defense Exercise: Pakistan’s Move Towards Improving Air Defense Systems – OpEd - 4/26/2021 - Eurasia Review Strategic command: U.S. ‘ready for just about anything’ from North Korea - 4/26/2021 - UPI.com 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!