MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS August 2 - August 9, 2022 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, August 2, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks selected the Air Force to oversee the development of a cruise missile defense to protect the United States. According to Hicks' spokesperson, Eric Pahon, the Air Force will be "the acquisition authority with respect to capabilities to defend the homeland against cruise missile threats." He noted that the Air Force was selected due to the need to combine intelligence from radars, aircraft and satellites in order to defeat the low-flying, highly maneuverable missiles that can be launched from the ground, aircraft or ships at hypersonic speeds to overwhelm current defenses. Also on Tuesday, the US announced the sale of major missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) worth more than $5 billion. The State Department said Saudi Arabia would buy 300 Patriot MIM-104E missile systems, which can be used to bring down at long-range incoming ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as attacking aircraft. The value of the missiles and attendant equipment, trainings and parts is $3.05 billion, the department said. Separately, the US will sell THAAD surface-to-air missile systems to the UAE for $2.25 billion. On Thursday, August 4, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force fired 11 ballistic missiles into waters surrounding Taiwan as part of a series of military exercises, according to the Ministry of Defense in Taipei. According to the MoD, the PLARF fired 11 DF-15 short-range ballistic missiles into waters to the northeast and southwest of Taiwan. Additionally, the Chinese claimed to have conducted live fire drills in the Taiwan Strait. The planned drills kicked off just after U.S. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) visit to Taiwan this week. The visit was part of a larger Congressional delegation trip to the Western Pacific. For its part, the U.S. has positioned a carrier strike group and two big deck amphibious ships embarked with Marine F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters are underway to the east of Taiwan, defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Thursday morning. Also on Thursday, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carrying a U.S. Space Force missile-warning satellite lifted off at 6:29 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The SBIRS GEO-6 mission was the sixth and last of the Space Based Infrared System constellation of geosynchronous satellites equipped with scanning and staring infrared sensors to detect ballistic missile launches anywhere on the globe. On Sunday, August 7, the Israeli Defense Force announced Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system achieved a 97 percent success rate intercepting incoming rockets, amid almost non-stop barrages launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group since Friday. The Sunday morning IDF data put the number of rockets and mortars launched toward Israel since Friday evening at 580. Iron Dome, which is used when the incoming projectile is headed for populated areas, intercepted 200 of them. In addition, 120 projectiles fell short and landed in the Gaza Strip. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. THE 2022 INDO-PACIFIC AIR & MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY The 2022 Indo-Pacific Missile Defender of the Year Awardees and presenters with Riki Ellison at the ceremony held in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 5, 2022. Click here to view the 2022 Indo-Pacific Air & Missile Defenders of the Year MDAA ALERTS USC SHIELD Executive Program ’23 "We, MDAA are excited to announce the USC SHIELD Executive Program ’23 in our partnership with USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy and the Viterbi School of Engineering! This dynamic, innovative, team, featuring national experts will educate senior leaders from the military..." Click here to read more. Cruise Control "Bureaucratic logjams have regrettably become a common feature of the landscape in Washington, even when they undermine efforts to protect the United States from threats in today’s increasingly dangerous national security environment. After this week, there is one fewer logjam thanks to the leadership shown by..." Click here to read more. The 2022 Indo-Pacific Missile Defenders of the Year "In the midst of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Chinese reaction of enveloping military exercises surrounding Taiwan over the past week and RIMPAC, recognition of the Indo Pacom Air and Missile Defense team was prioritized and made prominent..." 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. Global Proliferation Tracker Tracking the notable missile tests and developments from threats across the globe. Click here to read more about Iran. MDAA IN THE NEWS Riki Ellison Interview on the Mike Buck Show (8/4/2022) Riki Ellison on the Mike Buck show discussing the Hawaii Youth Impact Program for Girls, China, Taiwan, and missile defense in the Indo-Pacific region. Click here to read more about Iran. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Sergeant Vincent Kennedy SGT Kennedy is currently assigned as a Status Coordinator for Team A, Task Force Veritas, Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC). SGT Kennedy has distinguished himself by becoming the only Status Coordinator to become fully certified as a back-up Battle Captain. He also on short notice filled in as the Battle Captain for Team A when the current Battle Captain had to miss duty due to a medical issue. SGT Kennedy assumed the role without any hesitation. He flawlessly performed the job ensuring all reports were sent successfully and on-time. SGT Kennedy also volunteered to travel to the five-day, Command and Control Culminating Training Event after coming off a 12hr night shift duty. This selfless initiative requires him to quickly transition to day shift for five days and then back to a night shift schedule. SGT Kennedy’s dedication to professional excellence has been essential to the success of the National Capital Region-Integrated Air Defense System mission. SGT Kennedy was born in Rochester, Minnesota and currently lives in South Carolina. He graduated from Mcbee High School in Mcbee, South Carolina in 2013. Initially attending Florence Darlington Technical College, he transferred to ECPI University where he will graduate with a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology in 2022. He entered the South Carolina Army National Guard in November 2011. In 2013, SGT Kennedy attended Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he was trained as an Air Defense Battle Management Systems Operator (14G). SGT Kennedy played a key role in the establishment of the 678th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade, prior to its official activation in 2016. In late 2016, he was activated with the 678th ADA and assigned to the Horry County, South Carolina where he assisted in evacuation, emergency response, and recovery missions because of Hurricane Matthew. In 2017, SGT Kennedy attended Air Defense Airspace Management (ADAM) Net Operator and Admin courses in Huntsville, Alabama. After completion of ADAM Net Operator and Admin courses he was selected to mobilize with the 678th ADA in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve/European Reassurance Initiative as an Assistant Operations Sergeant in the ADAM Section. The 678th ADA participated in Saber Strike 2018, where SGT Kennedy helped create the first ever combined operational air picture with the Polish Military. 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 Hicks taps Air Force to oversee cruise missile defense - Politico - 8/02/2022 US Army successfully tests Iron Dome at White Sands Missile Range - Breaking Defense - 8/03/2022 New Missile-Warning Satellite, Set to Launch, Will Complete SBIRS Constellation - Air Force Magazine - 8/03/2022 ULA launches the last SBIRS U.S. Space Force missile warning satellite - Space News - 8/04/2022 Senate Requests $2B Boost to Space Force Budget for Missile Defense - Defense World - 8/08/2022 Iron Dome at 97% success rate after 580 rockets fired from Gaza since Friday - Times Of Israel - 8/08/2022 Pentagon eyes broader missile defense amid calls for more advanced countermeasures - Defense News - 8/09/2022 THREAT NEWS China fires missiles in ‘unprecedented’ drills around Taiwan - Al Jazeera - 8/04/2022 11 Chinese Ballistic Missiles Fired Near Taiwan, U.S. Embarks USS America From Japan - USNI News - 8/04/2022 China extends threatening military exercises around Taiwan - ABC News - 8/08/2022 OTHER NEWS US OKs $5B Sale of Missile Defense Systems to Saudi, UAE - The Defense Post - 8/03/2022 NATO fortifies Eastern Europe’s defenses under new ‘air shielding’ mission - Air Force Times - 8/03/2022 Chinese military drills circling Taiwan set up a potential standoff. - New York Times - 8/03/2022 Pentagon again delays nuclear missile test amid Chinese drills near Taiwan - Defense News - 8/05/2022 South Korea’s THAAD Missile Shield Reconsidered After North Korean Threats - VOA - 8/05/2022 Ukraine Needs NASAMS to Defend Against Russian Cruise Missiles - Air Force Magazine - 8/05/2022 White House Sending Key Air Defense System Ammunition To Ukraine - Defense One - 8/09/2022 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!