MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS September 7 - September 12, 2022 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Wednesday, September 7, it was reported that the U.S. State Department had approved Taiwan’s requests to purchase AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles, AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles, and contract logistics assistance for the Surveillance Radar Program under three foreign military sales agreements to the tune of more than a billion dollars. As part of Taiwan’s porcupine policy intended to discourage China from blockading or invading the island, the U.S. is arming the self-governing island with powerful defensive weapons in case Beijing attacks. Also on Wednesday, September 7, diplomats from the United States, Japan, and South Korea reaffirmed their commitment on Wednesday to working together in response to any threat from North Korea, including a possible new nuclear test. The three senior diplomats in charge of North Korean affairs also underscored their efforts to strengthen their security partnership. Japan and South Korea acknowledge their need to improve bilateral and trilateral cooperation. Relations between Japan and South Korea have been badly damaged by historical disputes over Japan’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula. On Thursday, September 8, an experiment for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office resulted in three different missile types being fired from one open-architecture National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System. The “layered” test showed how the existing NASAMS system could defend air bases against cruise missiles at varying distances. On Friday, September 9, it was announced that North Korea has officially enshrined the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself in a new law that leader Kim Jong Un said makes its nuclear status “irreversible” and bars denuclearization talks, state media reported on Friday. Among the scenarios that could trigger a nuclear attack would be the threat of an imminent nuclear strike; if the country’s leadership, people or existence were under threat; or to gain the upper hand during a war, among other reasons. On Monday, September 12, it was reported that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships around Taiwan as of 5 p.m. on Sunday. Of the eight People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, three crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, including two Shenyang J-11 fighter jets and one KVD-001 reconnaissance drone in the northeast sector of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Meanwhile, one Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane and one BZK-007 reconnaissance drone were spotted in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS Setting a Precedent "Yesterday, we as a nation honored the loss of thousands of lives, the sacrifices and heroics, and the cost of Freedom over the 21 years since September 11, 2001. We as a nation reflect on the consequences of 9/11 at the highest-level, with the 2002 withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty...." 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. NASAMS Information Page Important information on the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS). Click here to read more about NASAMS. MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK Mr. Carlos Cisneros Mr. Cisneros is a GS-13 in the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) J32 Integrated Tactical Warning & Attack Assessment Functional Manager’s Office. The Missile Warning Functional Manager’s Office (FMO) is responsible for providing missile warning information to Combatant Commanders and allies, and fielded forces. The Missile Warning FMO has responsibility for both Theater Missile Warning (TMW) and Strategic Missile Warning (SMW) of the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (ITW/AA). The office supports planning and integration efforts between Missile Warning (MW), Missile Defense (MD), battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence. Mr. Cisneros is a retired 20-year Air Force veteran. His key assignments included Hickam AFB, Hawaii in 1997; Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas in 2002; Vandenberg AFB, California in 2007; Schriever AFB, Colorado in 2007; Moron Air Base, Spain in 2012; Peterson AFB, Colorado in 2014; Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado in 2017. His hobbies include snowboarding, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddle boarding, hiking, running, and hunting. Mr. Cisneros is married to Melissa and they have five daughters, Kayla, Sierra, Alyssa, Chloe, and Danica, in their 25 years of marriage. Mr. Carlos Cisneros has been a top performer since Day 1 at N&NC, transforming the Integrated Tactical Warning / Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) Branch almost instantly after 2 years of severe personnel shortages! He has worked diligently on mission-critical Missile Warning architecture upgrades and expertly prepped NORAD Deputy & NORAD/J3 on CCDR on high-interest ITW/AA issues. He organized multiple engagements to review Missile Warning Command and Control capabilities for pre, trans, and post attack, maintaining all critical functions. Carlos has served with distinction as a high-impact subject matter expert, trusted advisor, & outstanding critical thinker! Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 NORAD & USNORTHCOM Missile Warning and Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS AFRL Test Proves New Method of Air Base Defense With NASAMS Canister - Air & Space Forces Magazine - 09/09/2022 Government-industry team demonstrates first-of-its kind Air Base Air Defense capability - Raytheon Missiles & Defense - 09/09/2022 Japan Plans Giant Missile Defense Ships, Its Largest Post-WWII Surface Combatants - The Drive - 09/12/2022 THREAT NEWS Hypersonic Threat Spurs Investment in Space-Based Missile Tracking - National Defense - 09/08/2022 Ukraine war: Kharkiv blackouts caused by targeted Russian attacks - Zelensky - BBC News - 09/12/2022 As Ukraine pursues counteroffensive, Russia strikes Kharkiv - AP News - 09/12/2022 OTHER NEWS  US Trained Ukrainian Missileers Who Sunk Russian Warship, Pentagon Official Says - Defense News - 09/07/2022 US Army command integrates new capabilities into Patriot forces - Defense News - 09/08/2022 Wary of Russia, Germany in talks to buy Arrow 3 missile defence from Israel - Reuters - 09/12/2022 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!