MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS June 8 - June 14, 2021 WEDNESDAY MDAA VIRTUAL CONGRESSIONAL ROUNDTABLE Click here to learn more and to RSVP for the event. THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. and UN, Gilad Erdan, said that the media building destroyed by one of Israel's air strikes during the recent conflict with Hamas, was being used by the militant group in attempts to undermine Israel's Iron Dome system. While Israel hasn't released any public evidence to confirm this, the government is holding steady to their claims. On Wednesday, the second of four Sa'ar 6 missile corvettes that are to be handed over to the Israel Navy docked at Haifa Port. The arrival of the ship signifies a huge milestone in Israel's defense of its territorial water and offshore energy resources. Also on Wednesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to discuss the priorities for missile defense in President Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. The Biden Administration is planning to conduct a new Missile Defense Review, which will focus on emerging and ongoing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Russian press agency TASS reported on Wednesday that the Russian Navy is set to receive two of the latest Karakurt-class corvettes armed with Pantsir-M air defense this year. This move comes in an effort to expand Russia's Black Sea Fleet, specifically with stealth technologies. On Friday, it was reported the Chinese People's Liberation Army had been conducting consistent live-fire nighttime military exercises that went past midnight. The exercises feature DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, notably nicknamed the 'Guam Killer' since it boasts a range that could strike Guam, a valuable U.S. territory in the Pacific. On Monday, an annual report published by The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, scholars estimated that North Korea now possesses between 40 and 50 nuclear weapons, a higher figure than the 30 or 40 that most people believed them to have. While there is currently no public confirmation or evidence of this estimation being correct, it should not go unnoticed from the international community. Yemen's Information Minister criticized the Houthi militia's use of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to target neighborhoods and forcibly displace civilians into camps on Saturday. Between January 1 and June 10, the militia has launched 12 drones, 3 Katyusha rockets, 6 projectiles, and 7 explosives into Marib, threatening millions of people in the area. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS "Iron Will" MDAA’s own Major General John G. Rossi Fellow, CPT (P) Cody M. Davis, provides a first hand account of Iron Dome’s first engagements in combat: “Late October 2012, I deployed my platoon with Delta Battery, 5-7 ADA from Kaiserslautern, Germany to Israel for an annual exercise... Click here to read more. Formidable Accomplishment As President Biden heads to Europe on his first foreign trip as President, he is focused on building greater collaboration and restoring ties with America’s allies. Last week, a major missile defense exercise, conceived of during the Obama-Biden administration, was concluded, showing the benefits of this type of cooperation. Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Dong Feng-26 (DF-26) The DF-26 is a solid-fueled intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of 3,000-4,000km. It is road-mobile, consists of two stages, and is designed for surface-to-surface operations. However, the missile reportedly has capabilities as an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) as... Learn more about the DF-26. Avenger Air Defense System First delivered in 1988, the Avenger air defense system is a vital element of the U.S. Army’s Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) and Line of Sight-Rear (LOS-R) architecture. The Avenger is a shoot-on-the-move, completely automated, day-and-night capable short-range air defense weapon. Learn more about the Avenger. Fateh-110 The Fateh-110 is an Iranian short range ballistic missile (SRBM) produced by Iranian-state owned Aerospace Industries Organization. The missile has been used in the Syrian Civil War by Iran and Syria, where the Syrian version is referred to as the “TISHRIN’’. Learn more about the Fateh-110. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Fire Controlman Aegis First Class (SW) John Long FCA1 Long is the Combat Systems Leading Petty Officer at Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Deveselu, Romania (AAMDSRO). Currently serving his 5th European Command (EUCOM) Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployment, FCA1 Long is the go-to subject matter expert (SME) for Aegis BMD. While stationed back at the Dam Neck Detachment, FCA1 Long was hand selected to provide his warfighting expertise at the Missile Defense Agency integrated ground test (GTI-20 Sprint 1 E/C) where he conducted training to USS Decatur, Aegis Ashore Poland, and Romania. Although initially billeted to be his team’s Combat Systems Coordinator (CSC), he flawlessly stepped up to fill the role of Tactical Action Officer (TAO) when the billeted TAO was unable to attend. FCA1 Long leveraged his subject matter expert level of knowledge to train all of the Radar System Controller (RSC), Missile System Supervisor (MSS), CSC and Ballistic Missile Defense Watch Officer (BMDWO) watchstanders at the event. His efforts directly contributed to the development of advanced procedures between NATO and U.S. Forces as well as the development of upper level watchstander proficiency for the EUCOM IAMD Operators and refining the collective European Phased Adaptive Approach Phase II Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. FCA1 Long personally mentored and trained AAMDSRO watchstanders across four deploying teams as they executed their rigorous eight-week Aegis Ashore Team Trainer certifications, with each team’s overall score well in the high 90s. FCA1 Long then mentored his own team during their BMD Qualification events and earned high praise from Afloat Training Group for his team’s performance and communications. During his team’s recent deployment, FCA1 Long executed his billeted role as RSC while simultaneously standing the CSC watch to cover a critical manning gap with zero degradation. FCA1 Long is a native of Blanch, North Carolina and enlisted in the United States Navy in June 2001. His afloat assignments include, SPY Technician USS Laboon (DDG-58), SPY Technician USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), SPY Technician USS Stout (DDG-55), and Lead SPY Technician USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51). During this challenging COVID-19 environment, FCA1 Long was still able to serve his community by supporting his local food bank with his time and effort. Additionally, he has a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, and earned various certifications through CIW, CompTIA and ISC2. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 U.S. Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Kratos Provides Ballistic and Airborne Targets for Formidable Shied 21 Campaign - 6/10/2021 - Intrado GlobeNewswire Defender exercises strengthen southeastern Europe’s deterrence with Russia - 6/10/2021 - Washington Examiner Kauai remains ‘preferred’ location for missile defense radar Pentagon won’t fund - 6/8/2021 - Star Advertiser Pentagon Faces Tense Fight Over Pacific Pivot - 6/8/2021 - Foreign Policy Israel says Gaza tower it destroyed was used by Hamas to try to jam Iron Dome - 6/9/2021 - BBC Second Sa’ar 6 missile ship docks in Haifa - 6/10/2021 - The Jerusalem Post DoD wish list seeks more funds to boost Pacific missile defense, weapons cybersecurity - 6/11/2021 - Defense News Missile Defense Review Will Address Growing Threats From Iran, North Korea, Others - 6/11/2021 - U.S. Department of Defense NATO to look eastward and inward at summit - 6/14/2021 - Defense News USS Laboon Enters Black Sea in Support of NATO Allies and Partners - 6/14/2021 - U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Houthis fired 55 Iranian-made ballistic missiles at Marib since start of 2021: Yemen information minister - 6/14/2021 - Arab News THREAT NEWS Top US general warns of Iran, China and Russia in Middle East - 6/8/2021 - The Jerusalem Post Russian Navy to receive this year two Karakurt-class Project 22800 corvettes - 6/9/2021 - Navy Recognition China tests ‘carrier killer’ after threatening US over Taiwan contacts - 6/11/2021 - Washington Examiner China’s rocket forces have been practicing launching ‘carrier killer’ missiles in the dark during midnight drills - 6/14/2021 - Business Insider North Korea could have 40 to 50 nuclear weapons, think tank says - 6/14/2021 - UPI OTHER NEWS Smith: Marine Corps Looking for Air Defense ‘Sweet Spot’ - 6/9/2021 - SEA POWER This week in Congress: Service officials face the budget hot seat - 6/14/2021 - Marine Corps Times NATO won’t ‘mirror what Russia does’, Secretary General Stoltenberg says amid worsening tensions - 6/14/2021 - CNBC All-Domain Operations Shape The Joint Battlespace For Decision Dominance - 6/14/2021 - Breaking Defense Stay Connected: ‌ ‌ ‌ MDAA | 515 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!