MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS
May 25 - June 1, 2021
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On Monday, it was reported China conducted on May 14-15 extensive live-fire exercises on involving several warplanes in the South China Sea. The Chinese exercises consisted of bombing and anti-ship missile strikes, highlighting their capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. These tests come just days before China received a new shipment of a modern air defense missile system and multiple rocket launcher systems.
Also, throughout the week there were several live-fire tests as part of the Formidable Shield 2021 exercise. On Wednesday, the French Navy’s Forbin, a Horizon type destroyer, intercepted a supersonic sea skimming target using an Aster 30 interceptor. Additionally, the Italian Navy’s Antonio Marceglia, a FREMM frigate, launched an Aster 30 interceptor against an unidentified target the same day. On Thursday, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy HMS Type 45 destroyer Dragon successfully launched a Sea Viper interceptor. On Wednesday and Sunday, the U.S. Navy’s USS Paul Ignatius successfully intercepted ballistic missile targets using Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptors. The USS Paul Ignatius was provided an early warning track of the ballistic missile target from the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS De Zeven Provincien frigate’s SMART-L MM radar. The USS Paul Ignatius used the SMART-L MM radar data to launch-on-remote the SM-3 Block IA interceptors, a “groundbreaking cooperative engagement.”
On Friday, the Biden Administration released the Department of Defense’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The Missile Defense Agency is requesting $8.9 billion for FY 2022, that includes development of the next generation interceptor, development for hypersonic defense, and space-based sensor systems.
On Saturday, the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy conducted an intercept test of the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II (BMD-initialized) missiles. A salvo of two SM-6 Dual II missiles were launched at a medium range ballistic missile target but were not able to achieve an intercept. MDA stated it has initiated an “extensive review to determine the cause” of what may have prevented a successful intercept.
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On the 10th anniversary of NATO’s unanimous decision to develop a capability to protect the Alliance’s European members from ballistic missile threats, the Alliance recently celebrated the agreement between Romania and the United States to establish NATO’s land-based ballistic missile defense system in...
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The United Kingdom is one of the nine countries possessing nuclear weapons. It is a very stable partner and supporter of U.S. security and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Britain is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance with the US. In 2003, the Framework Memorandum of...
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MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES |
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Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) |
The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is a derivative of the RIM-156 Standard SM-2 Block IV missile, and is the interceptor component of the U.S. Navy theater ballistic missile defense system, called NTW-TBMD (Navy Theater Wide – Theater Ballistic Missile Defense). It is an upper-tier (exo-atmospheric) ballistic missile...
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SMART-L Radar (The Netherlands and Others) |
Designed for surface ships, the Signal Multi-Beam Acquisition Radar for Targeting, or SMART-L, is a 3D surveillance radar that provides long-range surveillance and tracking against conventional aircraft and...
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Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) |
The Standard Missile-6 (SM-6)—also known as the RIM-174—retains the Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements and incorporates the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). It is the latest addition to the Standard Missile...
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MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK |
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Sergeant First Class
Johnny Washington
SFC Washington is the First Platoon Sergeant for Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (ADAR) at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. In 2020, he deployed to Camp Dahlke, Afghanistan; Camp Taji, Iraq; and the U.S. Embassy Baghdad with Bravo Battery 2-44 ADAR as the C-RAM Platoon Sergeant and Site Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. He created a training program that achieved a 100% “GO” rate for Table VIII certifications across Bravo Battery prior to the unit’s deployment to Afghanistan. There, SFC Washington developed a training and certification program for new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) assets deployed to the Area of Responsibility (AOR). Within the first month of the mission, SFC Washington’s platoon was ordered to Camp Taji, Iraq in response to a casualty producing rocket attack. SFC Washington planned and executed the first inter-theater, “no-notice” relocation of C-RAM assets in U.S. Central Command’s history. In Iraq, SFC Washington led a team of over 50 Soldiers and civilian engineers in the hasty emplacement and calibration of C-RAM assets and the team was able to reduce the doctrinal install timeline by sixty percent. SFC Washington and his platoon were once again called upon for an unprecedented mission; to establish indirect fire protection over Baghdad’s International Zone in direct support of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Iraq. SFC Washington synchronized efforts across Department of Defense and Department of State entities to calibrate and make ready the C-RAM system. This action represented the first time in history a military grade system such as the C-RAM has been employed at any U.S. embassy. SFC Washington’s innovation, dedication, and decisive leadership produced strategic results for the Air Defense Artillery branch and the United States of America. SFC Washington enlisted in the United States Army in 2006 out of his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia. His first duty station was Camp Casey, Korea as an Avenger Crewmember Gunner in 2007. SFC Washington also deployed to Baghdad, Iraq between 2009-2010 with Echo Battery, 3-4 ADAR. He is actively pursuing his Associates Degree at American Military University (AMU). SFC Washington has shared his military experience over the last 14 years with his wife Amber, and their three sons, Jaden, Mason and Wyatt.
Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 U.S. Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.
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Missile defense test fails off Kauai after appearance by Russian spy ship - Honolulu Star Advertiser |
A U.S. missile defense test that an official said was delayed off Kauai earlier this week due to the presence of a Russian surveillance ship was carried out today with a salvo of SM-6 ship-fired missiles failing...
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