MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS July 19 - July 25 2022 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, July 19, the Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded two companies with contracts to build 28 satellite prototypes with enhanced missile-tracking abilities with the ability to keep up with next-generation hypersonics. The $1.3 billion award is going toward tracking layers for satellite constellations with missile warning and tracking abilities. Other contracts awarded are directed to segments for launch services and ground operations and sustainment, are part of a longer term plan to field new satellites in low- and medium-earth orbit that would improve the sharing of missile target data. On Wednesday, July 20, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) a Pentagon office that conducts research and development of emerging technologies, said it successfully conducted the first flight test of the Operational Fires Program at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The medium-range hypersonic missile was launched from the back of a Marine Corps logistics truck. Any USMC or Army trucks equipped with the Palletized Load System can be converted into a launch platform. The program uses missile round pallets that are designed to be used with the load handling systems on these vehicles. An Army artillery fire control system was used to initiated the launch as well. An integrated systems critical design review of the OpFires program will be completed in 2022, DARPA said. On Thursday, July 24, the U.S. Department of State cleared a possible foreign military sale of 96 Raytheon-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles to the Netherlands in a deal estimated to be worth $1.2 billion. The Netherlands requested to buy the Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical, or GEM-T, missiles, which the State Department said support its goal of improving its defenses and increase its interoperability with the U.S. and fellow NATO forces.“The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands’ capability to meet current and future threats,” the announcement reads. On Monday, July 25, Tawain ordered people to stay indoors in an air-raid exercise as the nation ramps up its preparation in the event of a Chinese invasion. Sirens sounded at 1:30 p.m. (0530 GMT) for the mandatory street evacuation drills, which effectively shut towns and cities across northern Taiwan for 30 minutes. Periodic air-raid drills are required by law in Taiwan. The island has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine even though it has reported no unusual Chinese military activity. Also on Monday, the Turkish defense industry has delivered the first batch of the Sungur Weapon System, a portable air defense missile system effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), jets and helicopters, to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The Sungur Air Defense Missile System is an air defense missile system to be used in the short-range air defense of mobile/fixed units and facilities on the battlefield and in the rear area. The system is designed to be compatible with different platform integrations. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Solutions to the Missile Threat to Europe and Its Partners “We’ve had a phenomenal trip last week, and having drawn discussions on what the challenges are for NATO, for our services, for our partner nations, and there’s no question. The biggest gap in capability capacity is missile defense for NATO, for our services, and for the partner nations..." 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. Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) The Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a combat-proven air dominance weapon with more than 30 years of design, upgrades, testing, and production. Today, the AMRAAM continues to meet warfighting requirements beyond visual range.... Click here to read more about Iran. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Senior Master Sergeant Angel Aponte SMSgt Aponte serves as the Cyber Defense Operations Superintendent, at the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC), 224th Air Defense Group Detachment 1. SMSgt Aponte made a tremendous impact on National Capital Region-Integrated Air Defense System (NCR-IADS) mission throughout 2021 and 2022. He led a 50 person staff that provided information technology (IT) support to Air Force, Army and various NCR Agencies. SMSgt Aponte oversaw the seven month Enhanced Regional Situational Awareness laser consolidation effort, which resulted in an increase of Visual Warning Effectiveness by 39%. Additionally, he designed a test environment in support of an Air Combat Command-directed risk mitigation event. Furthermore, he led a network infrastructure modernization effort, increasing network capabilities by 300% and implemented next generation cyber security tools securing the cyber terrain for numerous NCR-IADS mission systems. SMSgt Aponte also secured additional funding for Phase 2 of a JADOC Military Construction effort. Additionally, in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SMSgt Aponte developed telework accommodations which provided hardware and Air Force Network access to over 50 personnel. Lastly, he coordinated two cyber protection team missions and the installation of the Cyber Vulnerability Assessment-Hunter toolkit to secure Army and Air Force networks and mission systems. His efforts saved over 200 man hours by providing an immediate equipment capability to the deployed Cyber Protection Team, thereby allowing them to quickly identify NCR-IADS cyber terrain vulnerabilities and follow-on corrective action tasks. SMSgt Aponte is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Bayamon Campus in May 1998. He enlisted in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard in June 1993. In May of 2003, SMSgt Aponte augmented the 728th Air Control Squadron out of Tyndall Air Force Base and deployed to Iraq. He drove a 45ft Tactical Air Operations Module from Kuwait to Baghdad in two days, part of the longest and largest convoy through a combat zone in Air Force command and control history. In January 2004, SMSgt Aponte took a follow-on rotation to the JADOC. In May 2009, he again deployed to the JADOC in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. SMSgt Aponte is married to Maria de Lourdes Martinez formally of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; they have two daughters, Mariangelica and Marisabelle, one son Angel, and a granddaughter, Rose. 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 Hypersonic Missile-Tracking Satellites Greenlit For Development - Defense One - 7/19/2022 Space Development Agency Director, Dr. Derek Tournear, Holds a Briefing on Tranche 1 Tracking Layer Contract Awards - Department of Defense - 7/20/2022 As missile threats grow, don’t give up on boost-phase defense - Defense News - 7/25/2022 Mission 2025: To Track Chinese Hypersonic Weapons, US Is Putting Together Missile Surveillance Satellites; This Is How It Will Work - EurAsian Times - 7/25/2022 Patriot missile sales to Netherlands cleared by US State Department - Defense News - 7/25/2022 THREAT NEWS Missiles strike Odesa, hitting a critical port for global grain supplies - The New York Times - 7/25/2022 Russia’s Yasen-class missile subs have impressed and worried NATO for years, and now Moscow may build more of them - Business Insider - 7/25/2022 Russian missile strike kills three in central Ukraine, governor says - CNBC - 7/25/2022 OTHER NEWS The anti-satellite test ban must not undermine deterrence - Defense News - 7/19/2022 US-UK special relationship deepens in space - Space News - 7/19/2022 Hypersonic missile launches off Marine Corps truck in DARPA test - C4ISR Net - 7/20/2022 Greece moves to join Lockheed’s F-35 program as Turkey F-16 bid stalls - Defense News - 7/20/2022 ‘Missile alert’: Taiwan holds air-raid exercise amid China tension - Reuters - 7/25/2022 Exclusive: U.S. probes China’s Huawei over equipment near missile silos - Reuters - 7/25/2022 Domestic portable air defense missile enters Turkish army’s inventory - The Daily Sabah - 7/25/2022 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!