MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS June 14 - June 21, 2022 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Wednesday, June 15, A U.S. Army Patriot missile defense system and an Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft combined to shoot down a dummy cruise missile over the Pacific. The drill marked the first time a Patriot system had been fired from the island nation of Palau, and the first time a Patriot had combined with a stealth fighter for a live-fire drill outside of testing in the U.S., according to Maj. Nicholas Chopp, a spokesman for the Hawaii-based 94th Air and Missile Defense Command. The target was shot down just over 20 miles from the island at an altitude of 10,000 feet using radar data provided by an F-35A assigned to the 354th Air Expeditionary Wing, which also launched from Palau, Chopp said. On Friday, June 17, The U.S. Navy concluded its latest Valiant Shield exercise by sinking the decommissioned frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) using a Standard Missile 6, or SM-6, in a demonstration of what the service term “coordinated multi-domain, multi-axis, long-range maritime strikes.” The sinking exercise (SINKEX) not only served as the finale for the two-week series of maneuvers but also shed light on the SM-6’s still-evolving offensive anti-surface warfare capability, which it adds to an already impressive roster of applications. As well as its core ability to shoot down air-breathing threats like aircraft and cruise missiles, the SM-6 can be used to swat incoming ballistic missiles in the terminal phases of flight, target certain hypersonic weapons in some instances, and even has a serious land-attack capability.In the demonstration of the SM-6’s anti-ship role on June 17, an example of the missile was launched from the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) and targeted the decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate USS Vandegrift. On Sunday, June 19, Ten Chinese military aircraft flew into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), marking the eighth day of intrusions this month. Four People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, two Chengdu J-10 fighter planes, two Shenyang J-11 jet fighters, and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane were tracked in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). Meanwhile, one Xian H-6 bomber entered the southwest and southeast corners of the identification zone. So far this month, China has sent 21 aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ, including 15 fighter jets, one bomber, and five spotter planes. On Monday, June 20, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced Canada will spend $4.9 billion over the next six years to modernize air and missile detection capabilities within NORAD. Additionally Canada pledged $40 billion over the next two decades for the joint U.S.-Canadian North American defense organization. During the press conference, Minister Anand stated, “In close coordination with the United States, we will establish the backbone of a brand-new northern approaches surveillance system to enhance surveillance and early warning threats to our continent.” It is still unclear as to whether Canada will sign on to a ballistic missile defense system with the United States. Also on Monday, China claimed a successful test of a land-based ballistic missile intercept system amid heightened tensions in Asia. Beijing has in recent years been ramping up research into all sorts of missiles, from those that can destroy satellites in space to advanced nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, as part of a modernization overseen by President Xi Jinping. “It looks like China is making steady progress on what appears to be hit-to-kill missile defense technology – a cutting-edge strategic military capability,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace based in Beijing. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Our First Responsibility is to Defend the Homeland “And our first responsibility is to defend the Homeland. This is the defense of the Homeland. It is a priority.” “There have been nine combatant commanders of NORTHCOM and every... Click here to read more. MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES Ukrainian War Updates Track the number and type of missiles used in the Ukrainian war, the number of casualties, and daily news highlights. Track updates on the conflict in Ukraine. Standard Missile - 6 (SM-6) The Standard Missile-6 (SM-6)—also known as the RIM-174—retains the Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements and incorporates the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).... Click here to read more about the SM-6. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Specialist Billy Payne SPC Payne is currently assigned as a Tactical Control Assistant (TCA), HQ Battery, 1-188th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regiment. SPC Payne, along with 2LT Eberle, received the Top Team award at the NASAMS course at the beginning of Exercise America’s Shield (EAS). SPC Payne has covered shifts for other TCAs and was selected to lead re-training when other TCAs require re-training. Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC) Team 4 performed without error during the Culminating Training Event (CTE) at Fort Bliss, Texas in June 2021, performing 100% on 96 Target of Interest prosecutions, which is tied for the most prosecutions during the CTE. JADOC Team 4 has not been cited for any errors on any Falcon Virgos, Falcon Gains, Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) or simulations since 1-188th ADA Regiment conducted the battle hand-off on in July 2021 in the National Capital Region (NCR). Team 4 also includes the top Fire Distribution Control Crew from the training conducted during EAS at Camp Grafton Training Center in May 2021. As the best JADOC team, Team 4 has been selected to support 2nd Battalion, 263rd ADA (South Carolina Army National Guard) CTE to train their JADOC teams so they are fully mission capable upon arrival in the NCR. SPC Payne began military service in 2013 when he enlisted into Iowa Army National Guard as a Religious Affairs Specialist. He is currently attending Purdue University Global to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. SPC Payne’s deployments include Afghanistan Global War on Terrorism (2016-2017); Humanitarian Service in support of Covid-19 (2020), and Operation Nobel Eagle (2021-2022). SPC Payne’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal Ribbon w/ one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon w/ Campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal Ribbon w/ M Device, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal Ribbon, Iowa National Guard Commendation Medal Ribbon, North Dakota National Guard Achievement Ribbon, and achieved Top Team in the NASAMS Fire Distribution Center Operators Course. SPC Payne currently resides in Bismarck, North Dakota. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 National Capital Region Air and Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Austin: How the U.S. Walks, Chews Gum at the Same Time - U.S. Department of Defense - 06/14/2022 S.Korea to join multilateral missile defense drill, fire SM-2 missile interceptors in Hawaii - The Korea Herald - 6/15/2022 36th Munitions Squadron Readies Guam for Improved Stand-Off Weapons Capability - Air Force Magazine - 6/16/2022 Ministry to form environmental assessment body for THAAD unit ‘normalization’ - Yonhap News Agency - 6/16/2022 Hawaiian Space Force Antennas Collect Vital Data with ‘Antiquated’ Equipment - Air Force Magazine - 6/16/2022 Patriot missiles down drone target from Palau with assist from Lightning II - Stars and Stripes - 6/17/2022 Missile Defense: Better Oversight and Coordination Needed for Counter-Hypersonic Development - U.S. Government Accountability Office - 6/17/2022 SM-6 Missile Used To Strike Frigate During Massive Sinking Exercise In Pacific - The Drive - 6/21/2022 ‘Most significant upgrade’: Canada pledges $4.9B over six years for NORAD modernization - National Post - 6/21/2022 THREAT NEWS Satellite images suggest Iran preparing for rocket launch - AP News - 6/15/2022 North Korea restoring another tunnel at a nuclear test site, report says - United Press International - 6/16/2022 Russia launches Kalibr missile on ammunition dump in Ukraine - Navy Recognition - 6/17/2022 China says anti-missile test not ‘aimed at any country’ despite rising tensions - The Guardian - 6/21/2022 10 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ - Taiwan News - 6/21/2022 Why this tiny island in the Pacific may be ground zero in a war with China - Task & Purpose - 6/21/2022 Putin says Sarmat ballistic missile to be deployed by end of 2022 - Al Jazeera - 6/21/2022 OTHER NEWS Space Development Agency gets 2 more launches in House defense markup - Breaking Defense - 6/15/2022 House Armed Services Democrats to propose $802 billion defense policy bill - The Hill - 6/16/2022 Israel says it’s building regional air defence alliance under U.S. - Reuters - 6/21/2022 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!