MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS February 15 - 22, 2022 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Saturday, February 19, Russia's strategic nuclear forces held exercises overseen by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, and Washington accused Russian troops massed near Ukraine's border of advancing and being "poised to strike". Missiles that Russia tested included the Yars ICBM, the Kinzhal ballistic and hypersonic cruise missile, the Iskander K system, anti-ship missiles, and the Tsirkon hypersonic missile. On Monday, February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine despite warnings from the West this could trigger sweeping sanctions. Also on Monday, Ukrainian troops in the front-line trenches in the east said heavy weapons fire from Russian-backed separatists had intensified to provoke all-out conflict amid fears of Russia seeking a pretext for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Also on Monday, Israel said it conducted several simulations testing a naval model of the Iron Dome defense system against advanced threats from Iranian proxies, with the ability to intercept rockets, cruise missiles, and drones. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS First to Fire On the eve of a grave moment in history, the world may witness thousands of lives lost in a day of conflict. If Russia attacks Ukraine, it reveals the failure of deterrence by punishment. Western influence, prevention, diplomacy, and appeasement will not have been able to stop... Click here to read more. Do Not Give Away AEGIS Ashore Poland Shortly after the inauguration of President Obama and Vice President Biden in 2009, the administration made the decision to cancel the “3rd Site” for ground-based midcourse defense (GMD) in Poland and the Czech Republic... Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Air Defense of 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's air defense. Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACs The Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) contains an integrated command and control battle management (C2BM) system, designed to provide battlespace situational awareness to Air Operations Centers. It is operated by 5 countries... Learn more about the AWACS. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Lieutenant Kristen Wingwall LT Ringwall is the Fire Control Officer for the USS Howard (DDG-83), homeport at Yokosuka, Japan. Upon LT Ringwall’s arrival, the USS Howard was completing a modernization upgrade after being fitted with Baseline 9.C.2. LT Ringwall built the USS Howard’s Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program from the ground up. She trained her ship’s combat team throughout the entirety of Basic, Integrated, and Advanced phases in Air Warfare, BMD, and Surface Warfare. LT Ringwall also led the USS Howard’s combat team during 80 scenarios, 20 of which she developed herself within the training program and prepared the combat team so well they earned rare T1 scores in three different BMD assessments. In 2021, LT Ringwall spearheaded the Missile Defense Agency’s At Sea Demo-01, where USS Howard was the first ever Aegis ship to track single and simultaneous Resident Space Objects base on Space Command and Communications directed tasking. LT Ringwall worked directly with the Space Force while simultaneously creating the Navy’s first Special Access Protocol at Sea program to support the mission. LT Ringwall also led the USS Howard’s combat team in two BMD Readiness Exercises, coordinating between Japanese, American, and South Korean forces. Her efforts led to the successful testing of the communications and link structure needed to jointly defend the homeland. LT Ringwall’s 17 Sailors in Combat Fire Control division have taken her drive and multiplied it as technicians. Not once over the past two years has SPY, Fire Control System, or Aegis been down for more than a couple of hours. LT Ringwall hails from Milton, Georgia, is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and commissioned through the Notre Dame Naval ROTC program. As a student, she majored in Science-Business and was involved in Student Government. She is fluent in Spanish and studied for six months in Santiago, Chile. Upon commissioning, LT Ringwall reported to the USS Howard in San Diego, California and deployed to Fifth Fleet with Carrier Strike Group 11 as the ship’s Main Propulsion Officer. Between tours, LT Ringwall was the youngest-ever graduate (23) of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Warfare Tactics Instructor course and earned the course’s “Top Tactician” award. LT Ringwall then earned the Honor Graduate distinction at the Advanced Division Officer Course.  Click here to view all the awardees from the 2021 U.S. Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. MDAA IN THE NEWS Missile radar system in Hawaii on hold as Pentagon rethinks "threat landscape" - Stars and Stripes The Pentagon is continuing to delay development of a Hawaii-based missile defense radar as it considers changes to the “threat landscape” in the Pacific, despite a mandate... Click here to read the full story Israel plans "laser wall" but questions remain about effectiveness and cost Israel plans to create a “laser wall” that would see the country shift from investing large sums in interceptor missiles to using electric-based lasers that are less costly. The system will be operational... Click here to read the full story NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Israel refuses sale of Iron Dome missile defense system to Ukraine - Ynet News - 2/15/2022 Missile radar system in Hawaii on hold as Pentagon rethinks ‘threat landscape’ - Stars and Stripes - 2/16/2022 KBR Secures $207M DOD IAC Task Order for PATRIOT Missile Support Services; Byron Bright Quoted - ExecutiveBiz - 2/17/2022 U.S. MARINES ACTIVATE NEW LITTORAL ANTI-AIR BATTALION - United States Marine Corp - 2/17/2022 AFCENT strengthens partnerships during Joint Air Defense Exercise - Air Force Central - 2/22/2022 THREAT NEWS Russia sends warplanes, hypersonic missiles to Syria for major naval drills - The Times of Israel - 2/16/2022 Israel preparing for possible Iranian drone attack - Israel National News - 2/17/2022 Shelling Escalates in Ukraine as Thousands Flee, Fearing Attack - The New York Times - 2/19/2022 Australia urges 'full investigation' into China naval laser incident, Beijing defends actions - Reuters - 2/21/2022 Putin Orders Troops to Separatist Regions and Recognizes Their Independence - The New York Times - 2/21/2022 The missiles Russia is launching in its alarming drills - The New York Post - 2/22/2022 OTHER NEWS Israel Inks $500m Air Defense Deal With Morocco, Reports Say - Haaretz - 2/15/2022 Israel Tests Naval ‘Iron Dome’ System on Warship Against Cruise Missiles, Drones - The Algemeiner - 2/22/2022 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!