MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

May 4 - May 10, 2021

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

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On Monday, it was reported that the Taliban has attacked several coalition positions in Afghanistan, including Kandahar Airfield. The Kandahar attack produced no casualties and the coalition responded with a strike on rockets aimed at the airfield.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Turkish Defense Association had conducted a test-fire of the HISAR-A+ air defense missile system against high-speed aerial targets. The test took place at Aksaray Shooting Range with the HISAR-A+ missile being launched from an ACV-30 tracked armored vehicle.

Also on Wednesday, it was reported that Russia plans to carry out three development test launches of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile this year. The tests are to take place at Plesetsk space center and come as Russia prepares to begin state trials of Sarmat in 2022.

On Friday, it was announced that the Kazan nuclear-powered submarine has joined the Russian Navy. The submarine is a part of project Yasen-M and is armed with Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles.

On Sunday, it was reported by Israel Defense Forces that four rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The first two missiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense battery and the second two landed in an unpopulated area.

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

MDAA ALERTS

"It's a Great Responsibility"

“That’s why my very first overseas trip was to this region to visit those allies and partners. I’m excited to work to pull the strengths of our regional partners more closely together. And their contributions are particularly crucial in this theater, our priority theater of operations. That brings me to the leadership of...

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MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

RS-28 Sarmat (Satan 2)

The RS-28 Sarmat (Satan 2) is a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile that is currently in development. Commissioned by the Russian Federation in 2010, this weapons system is expected to become operational between 2018 and 2020, replacing the aging R-36M2 Voyevoda. Although many of the missile’s specifics...

Learn more about RS-28 Sarmat.

HISAR

HISAR-A is a Turkish low-altitude air defense system based on an FNSS ACV-30 tracked vehicle chassis armed with four vertical launched missiles. It utilizes the KALKAN Air Defense radar paired with an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) system, allowing it to operate as an independent standalone system without the need...

Learn more about HISAR.

Defense Support Program (DSP)

The Defense Support Program has a history of launching atop Titan III and IV family of launch vehicles (to include the Titan addition of the Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade) with one exception to date. DSP-16 was launched aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis in November 1991. DSP was first deployed on November 6, 1970...

Learn more about DSP.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Lieutenant Colonel Scott Manson

LTC Manson is the Future Plans Deputy Branch Chief at the U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado. Over the past year, LTC Scott Manson executed over 432 hours on watch as Missile Defense Officer; monitoring 73 Global ballistic missile defense (BMD) assets, supervising 50+ Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) personnel, informing five Weapons Release Authorities, multiple combatant commanders, and the Secretary of Defense. He also authored Commander USNORTHCOMs Congressional testimony, encompassing 21+ BMD capabilities, rewrote 100th Missile Defense Annex S operating procedures, and briefed four Congressional delegates. LTC Manson also lead planning/ coordination efforts on multiple BMD topics with Indo-Pacific Command, Strategic Command, Missile Defense Agency, and Joint Forces Component Command, to ensure the GMD Fire Control System, 50+ personnel, and 73 associated global assets remains fully mission capable. In addition, he was responsible for numerous BMD assessments and studies, to include improved shot doctrine, EMP/Nuclear buffer zone, redefining Protection Capability, and Readiness Conditions. LTC Manson was born in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona and commissioned via ROTC as an Air Defense Artillery (ADA) (PATRIOT) officer from Ohio University (2003). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Leadership Development from the University of Texas at El Paso (2008). LTC Manson’s previous assignments include Platoon Leader, Tactical Director, 1-1, ADA BN (Fort Bliss, Texas); ADAM Cell OIC (Uijeangbu, Korea); ADA Fire Control Officer (Al Udeid AB, Qatar); Assistant S-3 / Tactical Director, 100th GMD (Colorado Springs, Colorado); Senior Air Missile Defense Officer, I CORPS (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), Battalion Executive Officer, HHB I Corps; Deputy Director Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center, Al Dhafra AB (United Arab Emirates); and Missile Defense Officer, USNORTHCOM (Peterson AFB). LTC Manson’s operational assignments include Operation Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Freedoms Sentinel. LTC Manson has attended the both ADA Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Patriot Top Gun, Joint Fire Power Course, Operational Electronic Warfare Course, AN/TPY-2 Operators Course, GMD Course, Missile Defense Operators Course, and Command and General Staff College. LTC Manson’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. LTC Manson is married to the former Casey Maher of Madison, Ohio. They have two children; Wesley and Dylan.

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