On Thursday, the Alaskan Air National Guard reported five Russian aircraft that flew near Alaska last week. A unit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson detected and tracked the planes and reported them to NORAD. The Russian aircraft stayed in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification for about 90 minutes.
Also on Thursday, the Department of the Navy submitted a report to Congress on Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense. The system gives Aegis cruisers and destroyers the capability of conducting BMD operations. These ships primarily operate in European waters.
On Sunday, Turkish President Erdogan said that Turkey would take 'positive steps' with both France and Italy on the Franco-Italian SAMP-T missile defense system. This announcement comes amid a tense relationship with Washington when Turkey was considering the Russian S-400 defense battery, which directly undermines NATO's missile system.
On Friday, Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero released a statement about the Guam Missile Defender of the Year Award ceremony that took place on Thursday. The event was hosted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. More information about the event can be found below in the Alerts and MDAA In The News sections of the newsletter.
