MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

September 20 - September 26, 2022

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

On Tuesday, September 20, it was reported that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Navy Aegis Technical Representative, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force witnessed another successful demonstration of the J7.B software build in support of the Japanese ASEV program. This demonstration known as ASEV Software Release 3, allows Japan to field J7.B software and the SPY-7(V)1 radar onboard a sea-based ASEV platform to provide ballistic missile defense (BMD) of the Japanese homeland.

Also on Tuesday, A senior U.S. Navy official said that China’s armed forces are capable of blockading Taiwan, specifically their navy which is the world’s largest and is quickly growing. China had conducted military drills in August that sought to demonstrate their ability to blockade Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory. The drills came in response to a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island in August. By using a blockade, military analysts say, Beijing could try to force submission by Taiwan’s leaders without an invasion.

On Wednesday, September 21, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s first mobilization since World War II and backed a plan to annex swathes of Ukraine, warning the West he was not bluffing when he said he’d be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. In the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion, Putin explicitly raised the specter of a nuclear conflict, approved a plan to annex a chunk of Ukraine the size of Hungary, and called up 300,000 reservists.

On Sunday, September 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast that Ukraine had received sophisticated air defence systems from the United States. It was the first acknowledgment that Ukraine had received the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), long sought by Kyiv and whose shipment was approved by Washington late last month.

Also on Sunday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast, ahead of planned military drills by South Korean and U.S. forces involving an aircraft carrier and a visit to the region by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. South Korea’s military said it was a single, short-range ballistic missile fired from near the Taechon area of North Pyongyan Province just before 7 a.m. local time and flew about 600 km (373 miles) at an altitude of 60 km and a speed of Mach 5.

Click here to read all of this week's headlines.

MDAA ALERTS

USC SHIELD '23

"The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) and the University of Southern California (USC) are in the second year of a partnership to advance strategic thinking on Space and Deterrence. MDAA is honored to announce the opening of class for the 2023 USC SHIELD Executive Program in Global Space and Deterrence developing influential leaders in Space and Defense...."

Click here to read more.

Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous, Ambitious

"From Sept. 15 to Sept. 17, Michel and more than 20 other high-level military, government and industry security experts met at USC for the kickoff of USC SHIELD. The eight-month program aims at teaching U.S. and other leaders to understand how to tackle growing issues of ...."

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.

Taiwan Incursion Updates

Track the number and type of incursions in the Taiwan Strait, the number of missiles fired, aircraft crossing the ADIZ, and daily news highlights.

Track updates on the tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Mr. Jeff Duncan

Mr. Duncan serves as the North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Missile Defense Capabilities Lead and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Lead for the Joint Staff Protection Functional Capabilities Board, Joint Capabilities Board, and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. He works closely with the Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency and advocates with the Services to gain solutions for IAMD Capability Gaps. He also serves as Operations Planner on the NCSA CCC. Mr. Duncan was born in Tampa, Florida. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado State University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma. He was a Distinguished Graduate of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and, following commissioning, entered the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia. He was an F-4E Pilot at Homestead AFB, Florida and Hahn Air Base, Germany. He helped to create the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program at Sheppard AFB, Texas. Assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida to fly the F-15, he was given his first command, the 33rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 33 Tactical Fighter Wing. Completing his command tour, he was assigned as the Director of Operations and Deputy Base Commander of an F-15 NORAD Alert Forward Operating Base. His follow-on assignment was in the F-15 at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, where he intercepted numerous Russian bombers and Electronic Intelligence aircraft and became a NORAD Airborne Battle Commander. He next served as the Deputy Operations Group Commander and, later, Commander of the 11th Operations Group, 11th Air Control Wing, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Following multiple deployments to the Middle East, he became the Deputy A3/5 for the Air Component of U.S. Central Command with many more deployments to the Middle East prior to his retirement from active duty with over 23 years of service. Mr. Duncan joined the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Team in late Sep 2009 advocating with the Services and Agencies for solutions to IAMD capability gaps identified in the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Integrated Priority List. He has led the HQ Team preparing the Annual Joint Assessment and Integrated Priority List for many years. He is happily married to Robin Wittig, who is an Insurance Examiner for AAA Homeowners Insurance. They have two cats, three sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren.

Mr. Jeff Duncan is NORAD USNORTHCOM’s leading advocate for Missile Defense capabilities supporting the CCDR’s current mission operations and future requirements. As the subject matter expert for integrated air and missile defense in N&NC J81, Jeff led the Commands’ effort to have N&NC requirements recognized in the USSTRATCOM led Warfighter Involvement Process (WIP). He challenged USSTRATCOM’s assumptions and methodology for prioritizing missile defense priorities from a global perspective, and ultimately saved all CCMDs substantial time and effort by resolving conflicts at the action officer level. Mr. Duncan’s expertise enabled him to work through process fog to gain understanding and ground for N&NC air and missile defense issues.

Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 NORAD & USNORTHCOM Missile Warning and Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.