MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS August 17 - August 23, 2021 THE WEEK IN BRIEF Last Monday, the USS Higgins and USS Howard arrived in their new forward-deployed location: Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. The arrival of the two guided missile destroyers serve as a direct contribution to enduring national security in the Indo-Pacific region. On Tuesday, it was reported that China has intruded upon Taiwanese air space more times this year than ever before, according to Taiwan's defense officials. Since the beginning of the year, Taiwan's air force radars have sensed nearly 400 Chinese planes inside of the island's air defense identification zone. On Wednesday, South Korean officials announced that the country would begin mass production of a newly-upgraded interceptor missile, that some consider the Korean version of the U.S. Patriot missile defense system. The decision to begin with mass production comes after two successful tests in July and August. On Saturday, a Chinese state-run media outlet reported that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force has successfully tested two new types of conventional missile warheads. Both missiles were able to penetrate through multi layered "enemy defenses." On Monday, Israel's Defense Ministry announced that U.S. Army Soldiers had conducted the first test of the Iron Dome system in June at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Since the U.S. agreed to purchase two Iron Dome batteries in 2019, the U.S. military has been working to integrate Israel's champion system with existing air and missile defense systems. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA Alerts 12 Star Report Last week, the missile defense community gathered in Huntsville, Alabama for the 2021 Space and Missile Defense Symposium. Our nation’s most senior Military Commanders addressed the most critical strategic challenges facing Missile Defense.  Click here to read the alert. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Hamas Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic resistance movement located primarily in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is tied to Sunni Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood. The group is one of two Palestinian political parties, with the other being Fatah. In 1987 Hamas was founded as the main military resistance against Israel during the first Intifada. Learn more about the Hamas. NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in Washington, DC in 1949. The original purpose of the Alliance was for the guaranteed protection of Europe, by the American military, against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Since the fall of the Soviet Union... Learn more about NATO. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS USS Higgins and USS Howard arrive in Japan, join DESRON 15-8/17/2021/Commander, United States Pacific Fleet S. Korea to begin mass production of surface-to-air interceptor missile-8/18/2021/The Korea Herald Turkey to unveil new laser weapon system-8/18/2021-Defence Blog Japan missile plan on Ishigaki island helps boost Taiwan defense-8/20/2021-Nikkei Asia US military completes first Iron Dome tests on American soil-8/23/2021-The Times of Israel Iran says it is expanding defense beyond borders, will continue missile program-8/23/2021-The Times of Israel Missile Defense Agency director wants less complex, more mobile Aegis Ashore-8/23/2021/Defense News THREAT NEWS China Warplanes Set New Record for Intrusions in Taiwan’s Air Defense Zone-8/18/2021-Newsweek New satellite images show Russia may be preparing to test nuclear powered ‘Skyfall’ missile-8/19/2021-CNN Russia is Top Military Threat to U.S. Homeland, Air Force General Says-8/19/2021-USNI News China sends bombers into Taiwan air defense zone-8/20/2021-The Washington Times Russia Integrated Kh-35U Anti-Ship Missiles Into Su-34 Bomber-8/20/2021-The Defense Post China Tests 2 New Types of Missile Warheads, State Media Says-8/23/2021-Sputnik News OTHER NEWS USS Curtis Wilbur departs Japan after 25 years in U.S. 7th Fleet-8/19/2021-Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet No budget request for sea-based Aegis missile defense-8/19/2021-The Asahi Shimbun Dickinson: US Space Command is on ‘good glide path’ to full operational capability-8/20/2021-Defense News 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!