MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS January 10th - 16th, 2023 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Wednesday, January 11, it was announced that about 100 Ukrainian troops will head to Oklahoma’s Fort Sill as soon as next week to begin training on the Patriot missile defense system, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. Ukraine has long sought the Patriot surface-to-air guided missile defense system because it can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. During his late December visit to the U.S., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the battery would make a significant difference in bolstering Kyiv’s defenses against Russia’s invasion. Also on Wednesday, the Canadian government announced that it will buy a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the United States and donated it to Ukraine in a bid to help strengthen the country’s air defense systems against ongoing Russian attacks. In addition to NASAMS, the government will also supply Ukraine with all associated munitions. The value of the donation, which was officially announced on January 10, 2023, stands at around $406 million. It will be funded by the country’s $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, which was first announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2022. On Thursday, January 12, Lockheed Martin presented a new way of employing the company’s highly capable Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement surface-to-air missile, firing it from a Mk 41 Vertical Launch System cell. This combination opens a door to potentially adding this missile to the arsenal of dozens of current and future warships in service around the world, including with the U.S. Navy. In addition, it could allow any ground-based variant or derivative of the Mk 41, such as ones the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy are developing, to fire these interceptors, in addition to various other missiles. On Friday, January 13, top national security officials from the United States and Japan are to agree to changes in the joint defense posture this week as the two nations confront rising threats from North Korea and increasing aggressiveness from China. U.S. officials say Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet on Wednesday with their Japanese counterparts and plan to issue a joint statement that will adjust, but not increase, the American troop presence on the island of Okinawa. It also will add a formal mention of space in the longstanding mutual defense treaty the two countries have held, in a nod to the Pentagon’s creation of the Space Force and Space Command. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. Congressional Roundtable Discussion Series Please join us for a virtual discussion: "Combat Proven Integrated Air and Missile Defense: CENTCOM" On Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST on MDAA's YouTube channel Click Here to RSVP MDAA ALERTS Tidings of Sorrow "During the holiday period and into the first two weeks of 2023, Russia has continued to launch, indiscriminately at times, substantial amounts of missiles into Ukraine. On New Years Eve, Russia launched 20 cruise missiles at Kiev utilizing Tu-95ms strategic bombers and ground-based missile defense systems deployed near the Caspian sea. On January 2, Russia launched a barrage of 40 Iranian Shaheed 136 explosive..." 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 Master Sergeant Brenden Villa-Hashimoto MSgt Villa-Hashimoto is one of the Senior Non-commissioned Officers for the Defense Team at the 613th Air Operations Center (AOC) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Defense Team have significantly contributed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s (USINDOPACOM) missile defense mission through their combined knowledge, professionalism, and leadership. During this period, the Defense Team participated in multiple Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and Joint Air and Missile Defense exercises that resulted in increasing the capability and lethality in the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). The Defense Team participated in exercises such as Keen Edge, Keen Sword, Combined Combat Post Training, and Night Blue with the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Air Defense Artillery Fires Control Officer section. Their integration and training increased our joint operational readiness and knowledge of our combined weapon systems. Additionally, the Defense Team participated in multiple real-world operations integrating with allies and partners in the Pacific region. Distance Sea Operations enabled the Defense Team to integrate with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts to execute the mission to deter peer and near-peer aggression in the AOR. Operation Noble Eagle provided critical roles in PACAF objectives to validate air defense team management of limited resources in a multiple threat environment, timely response & implementation of continuum of operations utilizing theater operationally resilient systems to defend the AOR, and finally providing real-time operational Command and Control for all Dynamic Force Employment in the USINDOPACOM AOR aligned with our National Defense Strategy. MSgt Villa-Hashimoto has been in the military for over 20 years. MSgt Villa-Hashimoto joined the Air Force as an active duty nuclear missile maintainer. He then joined the Hawaii Air National Guard as a Command and Control Battle Management Operator. MSgt Villa-Hashimoto deployed in 2017 as a Senior Air Defense Technician and also served as the additional duty First Sergeant. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 Indo-Pacific Air & Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS HEADLINES MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Exclusive: Iran Keeps Building Air Defense Network in Syria, Israel Keeps Bombing It - Newsweek - 01/10/2023 India to spend $522M on missiles, air defense and naval weapons - Defense News - 01/11/2023 Report: IDF thwarting Iran's effort to establish aerial defense network in Syria - Israel Hayom - 01/11/2023 Army fielding 2 Iron Dome batteries at Joint Base Lewis-McChord - Breaking Defense - 01/11/2023 Falcon Heavy Launches USSF-67, Readies for Busy 2023 - AmericaSpace - 01/16/2023 THREAT NEWS Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s air space for fourth time in a week, defense ministry says - Fox News - 01/10/2023 Belarus says joint air defence units with Russia have been reinforced - Reuters - 01/11/2023 Capable Of 'Tracking' F-35 Stealth Fighters, Iran's Own S-400 System, Bavar-373, To Be Deployed In Syria - Eurasiantimes - 01/12/2023 Chinese military invents smart shield designed to make laser weapons useless - South China Morning Post - 01/12/2023 North Korea has 80-90 nuclear weapons, Seoul researchers warn - UPI - 01/13/2023 OTHER NEWS Japan to expand island military base near Taiwan after China’s missile drills | South China Morning Post - 01/10/2023 RAND Comments on DDG(X) Next-Generation U.S. Navy Destroyer - Naval News - 01/10/2023 US wants missile-armed troops in Okinawa: report - Taipei Times - 01/11/2023 Report: Myanmar arms industry growing after army takeover - ABC News - 01/15/2023 Iran To Get Russian Su-35S Fighter Jets In Three Months - The Aviationist - 01/16/2023 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!