MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS June 15 - June 21, 2021 PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE. THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Monday, the Biden administration announced its plans to remove a significant number of antimissile systems from the Middle East in order to focus on the Russian and Chinese threat. The current plan is to pull 8 Patriot antimissile batteries as well as a THAAD system from various countries in the region. The move shows a strategic shift in the national security interests of the new administration. Also on Monday, Army Recognition reported that the Spanish Army had received its first shipment of Hawk 21 air defense missiles. The new delivery will help Spain in achieving its goal of increasing the operational availability of the system and ‘extending its life cycle beyond 2030.’ On Tuesday, it was reported that the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is looking to purchase Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system in order to protect the city’s airport from Russia. Mariupol has been plagued by the presence of Russian troops since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The airport that is near the Russian border has been closed since the fighting broke out, and with the Iron Dome system, Ukraine hopes to restore travel and a sense of normalcy. On Thursday, in light on several recent Congressional hearings regarding the fiscal year 2022 budget, it was announced that both House and Senate lawmakers are looking to up the Missile Defense Agency’s budget in order to accommodate the development of future capabilities such as a next-generator interceptor and hypersonic defensive capabilities. The agency’s current request is $8.9 billion, but lawmakers still believe the agency requires more to fulfill their duties. In a recent Senate Armed Services hearing, Vice Admiral John Hill (director of the Missile Defense Agency), stated that U.S. aircraft carriers are facing a threat from hypersonic weapons possessed by adversary armed forces. The Navy has developed early defenses for the threat, but there is a continuous need for the development of defensive capabilities to combat hypersonic missile threats. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Partnership with the University of Southern California The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) and its Sol Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, is pleased to announce the Executive Program in Global Space and Defense. Click here to read more. Great Power Competition In at time of Great Power Competition with the historic precedent of the first meeting of President Biden and President Putin, we took the opportunity to discuss Missile Defense. We held our 30th Congressional Roundtable, “Missile Defense in Great Power Competition” in Alexandria, Virginia. Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Iron Dome Since becoming operational in 2011, Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system boasts a 90% success rate in intercepting incoming targets. Currently, Israel is the sole operator of Iron Dome, but the country has considered selling the system to other NATO allies. Learn more about the Iron Dome. 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 Sergeant Major Jason Junkins SGM Junkins is the Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Battalion (BN), 265 Air Defense Artillery Regiment (ADAR) in the Florida National Guard (FLARNG). In 2020, he served as the First Sergeant for HHB/1-265 ADAR during their mobilization in the National Capital Region (NCR). SGM Junkins successfully managed the execution of all training and certification events during Exercise America’s Shield (EAS) and the Culminating Training Event (CTE) at Fort Bliss, Texas. His mentorship and guidance reflected in Soldiers’ performance that resulted in 100% of all mobilization tasks being completed with zero loss or damage to equipment or personnel. SGM Junkins is also known to develop and guide other Soldiers from adjacent FLARNG units to include individuals from external organizations. SGM Junkins is revered by many as a leader, expert, and a paragon of the Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps. His dedication and commitment to excellence as a senior NCO within the ADA community as well his service to his unit is second to none. SGM Junkins is of the highest character and a quiet professional, whose dedication to service and commitment to excellence has no equal. SGM Junkins enlisted in to the United States Marine Corps in March of 1990. He served on active duty for five years as a Heavy Machine Gunner and a Field Radio Operator and then in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1998. In 2002, SGM Junkins enlisted into the FLARNG and reclassed as an Avenger Crewman where he was assigned to Bravo Battery, 1-265 ADAR. Over his 19 year career in the FLARNG, SGM Junkins has served as a recruiter, Avenger Section Sergeant, Avenger Master Gunner, and Avenger Platoon Sergeant, Air Defense instructor, Senior Small Group Leader, the National Guard Bureau Air Defense Artillery Subject Matter Expert (SME), and Deputy Commandant of the 211th Regional Training Institute. SGM Junkins’ deployments include Okinawa, Japan, Desert Shield / Desert Storm, two to Somalia, two to the Western Pacific, and two for the NCR – Integrated Air Defense mission in Washington D.C. SGM Junkins is a member of the Honorable Order of St. Barbara. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Stetson University in his hometown of DeLand Florida where he resides with is 20 year old son, Robert. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2020 U.S. Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Ukraine considers buying the Iron Dome-report-6/15/2021- The Jerusalem Post NATO calls on Iran to cease all ballistic missile activities-6/15/2021- The Times of Israel Why the Biden administration must not trade away homeland missile defense- 6/15/2021- Defense News Norms for Space Should Be Key to Arms Control Negotiations, Generals Say- 6/16/2021- Air Force Magazine Robust, credible and layered missile defense is the foundation of deterrence- 6/16/2021- Defense News Raytheon integrates SPY-6 radar on USS Jack H. Lucas- 6/16/2021- Navy Recognition IDF hits Gaza terror targets after arson attacks, in first raids since ceasefire-6/16/2021- The Times of Israel Lawmakers push to boost Missile Defense Agency budget second year in a row- 6/17/2021- Defense News Give Lasers Back to the Missile Defense Agency, Lawmaker Says- 6/17/2021- Defense One Official Details DOD Missile Defense Strategy- 6/17/2021- U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Military to Withdraw Hundreds of Troops, Aircraft, Antimissile Batteries From Middle East- 6/21/2021- The Wall Street Journal Israel MoD Successfully Completes its First-Ever Series of Interception Tests Employing an Airborne, High-Power Laser System- 6/21/2021- Cision PR Newswire Secretary of Defense Opening Testimony at the Senate Appropriations Committee (as prepared)- 6/21/2021- U.S. Department of Defense Police deployed at South Korea THAAD base as U.S. seeks upgrades- 6/21/2021- UPI Seoul courts risk after ‘no shackles’ missile development deal- 6/21/2021- Al Jazeera Spanish Army receives first updated Hawk 21 air defense missiles- 6/21/2021- Army Recognition THREAT NEWS MDA: U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now at Risk from Hypersonic Missiles- 6/15/2021- USNI News Russia Conducts Largest Navy Exercise Since Cold War As Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin Meet- 6/16/2021- Newsweek China Sends A Record 28 Military Planes Into Airspace Controlled By Taiwan- 6/16/2021- NPR OTHER NEWS Erdogan sticks to his position on Russian missile deal after meeting with Biden- 6/15/2021- CNBC Reagan CSG enters South China Sea, upholds freedom of seas, commitment to allies, partners- 6/15/2021- Commander United States Pacific Fleet Key takeaways from tense but ‘constructive’ US-Russia summit- 6/17/2021- PBS Russian spy ship now reported north of Oahu- 6/21/2021- Star Advertiser 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!